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O'HARE 
WORLD  PEACE 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


A  Drama 


By 


Frank  P.  and  Kate  Richards  O'Hare 

B  R  1  E  H  I 
WAUK1LL,  N.  Y. 

Price  25c 


THE  NATIONAL  RIP-SAW  PUBLISHING  CO. 

PONTIAC  BUILDING  -  -  ST.  LOUIS,    MO. 


BRIEHL 
WALLKILL, 


WORLD  PEACE 

A  DRAMA  IN  THREE  ACTS 

This  work  is  dedicated  to  the  world  peace 
and  human  brotherhood  that  can  be  real 
ized  when  co-operation  and  justice  have  re 
placed  competition  and  militarism  in  world 
commerce. 


*Wcrld 


Spectacle  Drama 
in  Ttyree  Acts 


BY 

FRANK  P.  and  KATE  RICHARDS  O'HARE 


ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 

The  National  Rip  Saw  Publishing  Co. 

1915 


COPYRIGHT  1915,  BY 
THE  NATIONAL  RIP  SAW  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY 


BANKER 

BUSINESSMAN 

SPECULATOR 


PEACE. 

DEMOCRACY. 

HISTORY. 

WORLD    FEDERATION. 

AMERICA. 

COLUMBIA. 

AMERICAN 

AMERICAN 

AMERICAN 

DRUMMER 

MEDICAL   SCIENCE. 

CHARITY. 

RELIGION. 

RED    CROSS. 

THE  KAISER 
GERMAN   STATESMAN 
GERMAN   BANKER 
GERMAN  BUSINESSMAN 
THE  KING  OF  ENGLAND 
ENGLISH    STATESMAN 
ENGLISH  BANKER 
ENGLISH  BUSINESSMAN 
THE   CZAR 

RUSSIAN    STATESMAN 
RUSSIAN   BANKER 
RUSSIAN  BUSINESSMAN 
THE  EMPEROR  OF 

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. 
AUSTRIAN    ARCH-DUKE 
THE   KING   OF   BELGIUM. 
THE   KING  OF   SERVIA. 
THE  PRESIDENT 

OF   FRANCE. 
THE    KING   OF    ITALY. 
THE    SULTAN. 


ARMAMENT  MAKER 
A    CLERGYMAN 

(The  following1  characters 
are  all  individuals  from  the 
peasant  and  working  class 
groups) 

MESSENGER 
BELGIAN  MOTHER 
BELGIAN    CHILD 
BELGIAN    BOY 
IRISHMAN  (Fiddler) 
IRISH   MOTHER 
IRISH  CHILD 
GERMAN  WORKMAN 
GERMAN   WOMAI* 
GERMAN  YOUTH 
GERMAN    BOY 
FRENCH    WORKMAN 
FRENCH   \VOMAN 
FRENCH   BOY 
FRENCH  GIRL 
RUSSIAN    WORKMAN 
RUSSIAN    WOMAN 
RUSSIAN  GIRL 
RUSSIAN    LITTLE   GIRL 
ENGLISH   WORKMAN 
ENGLISH   WOMAN 
ENGLISH    LITTLE    GIRL 
SERVIAN   WOMAN 
SERVIAN   BOY 
AUSTRIAN  WOMAN 
AUSTRIAN    YOUTH 
SCOTCHMAN  (with  bagpipe) 
SCOTCH   LITTLE    <;IKI, 
HUNGARIAN    VIOLINIST 
HUNGARIAN  LITTLE  GIRL 


(Continued) 


PERSONS  OF  THE  PLAY   (Continued) 

BRITISH,  GERMAN,  AUSTRIAN,  HUNGARIAN,  RUSSIAN, 
SERVIAN,  POLISH,  BELGIAN,  FRENCH,  AND  TURKISH 
GROUPS  OP  PEASANTS  AND  WORKING  PEOPLE,  CON 
SISTING  OF  FATHERS,  MOTHERS,  OLDER  AND  YOUNGER 
CHILDREN. 

NORWEGIAN,     SWEDISH,     DUTCH,     SPANISH,     PORTU 
GUESE,    ITALIAN,    GREEK,    DANISH,    ROUMANIAN,    BUL 
GARIAN  AND  SWISS  GROUPS,  CONSISTING  OF  FATHERS, 
MOTHERS,   OLDER   AND   YOUNGER   CHILDREN. 
PORTERS    AND    WORKINGMEN. 


ACT  I 


BIGHT  STAGE.  This  part  of  the  stage  is  set  with 
tables,  around  which  are  peasant  groups  of  various 
European  nations.  Each  group  contains  fathers, 
mothers,  children,  young  men  and  maidens.  Fathers 
smoking,  mothers  knitting,  embroidering,  crocheting 
and  fondling  children.  The  men  exchange  news 
papers,  discuss  politics,  pass  cigars  and  cigarettes 
from  table  to  table,  light  each  other's  pipes  and  clink 
\\ine  glass  with  stein,  all  in  peace  and  good  will. 
Mothers  display  their  work,  show  each  other  stitches 
and  compare  children. 

Young  men  and  maidens  nod  and  smile  to  each 
other.  Some  pair  off,  a  German  youth  and  a  French 
girl — a  Russian  girl  and  an  Austrian  youth,  etc. 
Mild  flirtations  and  innocent  love-making. 

The  children  play  tag,  ball,  and  marbles  between 
the  tables.  A  Belgian  boy  draws  a  long  string  of 
wiener- wursts  from  his  pocket;  A  little  English  girl 
snatches  a  handful  of  crackers  from  a  table  and 
they  feed  each  other  with  much  laughter.  A  French 
boy  makes  friendly  advances  to  a  little  Russian  girl, 
9 


.10  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  i 

exhibiting  a  long  stick  of  candy.  The  little  Russian 
girl  accepts  the  proffered  friendship  and  they  eat  the 
candy,  taking  alternate  bites.  A  little  Hungarian  girl 
and  a  Servian  boy  share  their  bread  and  cheese.  A 
German  boy  creeps  up  and  snatches  a  handful  of 
pretzels  from  a  table;  his  mother  laughingly  strikes 
at  him  over  the  table  with  a  long  stocking  she  is 
knitting  and  he  runs  off  to  share  his  pretzels  with  a 
little  Scotch  girl. 

During  this  scene  characteristic  national  folk  music 
is  heard  from  the  various  groups.  A  German  work 
man  plays  a  yellow  clarinet;  a  Scotchman  plays  the 
Highland  Fling  on  a  bagpipe;  an  Irishman  plays  an 
Irish  jig;  a  Russian  workman  plays  a  ballalaika;  a 
Hungarian  violin  is  heard.  Snatches  of  folk  songs 
of  various  nations  are  heard  now  and  then  from  the 
various  groups.  All  applaud  the  contributions  to  the 
gayety  of  the  occasion  and  express  enjoyment. 

A  French  workingman  looks  up  from  the  news 
paper  he  is  reading  and  addresses  a  Gorman  work 
ingman. 

FRENCH  WORKINGMAN.  The  jingoes  are  working 
overtime;  here  is  a  fool  pencil  pusher  who  insists  that  in 
order  to  display  our  culture  and  patriotism  we  must  all 
go  to  war. 

GERMAN  WORKINGMAN.  Fools!  All  mouth  and  no 
brains.  If  the  jingoes  want  war  let  them  do  the  fighting. 
You  and  I  have  no  stomach  to  cut  each,  other's  throats 
and  I  would  rather  drink  a  good  draught  of  Muenchener 
than  my  brother's  blood,  [raises  stein  and  drinks]  I  drink 
to  peace  and  forswear  war. 

RUSSIAN  WORKINGMAN.      Hear!    Hear!      Let   fools 


WORLD  PEACE  11 

rant  and  Jingoes  rave — it  shall  not  disturb  us.  The  Bal 
kan  situation  did  look  somewhat  alarming  but  that  is 
all  over  now.  I  have  here  the  agenda  for  the  Interna 
tional  Socialist  Congress  to  be  held  in  Vienna  soon.  It  is 
full  of  good  meat  for  our  souls  and  when  the  workers 
of  every  nation  on  earth  meet  in  that  Congress  of  Labor 
we  will  sign  and  seal  the  pact  of  the  International  soli 
darity  of  labor.  Then  fool  pencil  pushers  and  jingoistic 
howlers  will  lose  their  occupation,  and  war  will  go  out 
of  business. 

ENGLISH  WORKINGMAN.  You  are  right  brother!  We 
organized  workers  have  found  that  business  is  interna 
tional  and  does  not  concern  itself  With  flags  or  countries 
but  takes  the  toll  of  profits  under  any  flag.  Shall  we  be 
less  wise,  we  workers?  I  trust  not..  If  business  interests 
are  international,  so  shall  be  the  organization  of  the 
workers  and  we  do  not  love  the  Fatherland  less  because 
we  love  the  human  race  more.  To  be  loyal,  patriotic 
citizens  of  any  nation  we  need  not  hate  and  distrust  the 
men  of  other  nations. 

I  propose  a  toast  to  peace,  the  international  solidarity 
of  labor  and  world-wide  brotherhood.  Who  will  drink 
with  me? 

AH  worklngmen  spring  to  their  feet  and  drink  to 
the  toast. 

LEFT  STAGE.  Screened  from  the  groups  on  the 
right,  but  in  sight  of  the  audience,  a  group  of  the 
European  bankers,  business  men  and  the  armament 
maker  is  seated  at  a  table.  On  the  back  wall  is 
hung  an  immense  map  of  Europe. 

Enter    (left)    the    Kaiser    and    the    Emperor    of 


12  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  i 

Austria-Hungary  arm  in  arm.  Business  men,  bankers 
and  armament  maker  rise  and  step  aside.  The  King 
of  England  enters  (left)  just  behind  them.  The 
Kaiser  greets  the  King  of  England  effusively,  kissing 
him  on  both  cheeks. 

KAISER.  Here  is  my  beloved  kinsman!  I  trust 
that  all  is  well  with  you,  Georgie? 

KING  OF  ENGLAND.  Greetings  most  beloved 
cousin.  All  is  well  with  me  and  my  family;  I  trust  God's 
choicest  blessing  rests  on  you  and  yours. 

The  Emperor  of  Austria-Hungary   steps  forward 
and  greets  the  King  of  England. 

EMPEROR    OP    AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.      I    greet    you 

and  pray  that  a  thousand  blessings  rest  on  you  and  yours. 

KING  OF   ENGLAND.      I   thank   you   from   my  heart 

and  wish  ten  thousand  choicest  blessings  for  you   and 

your  family  and  nation. 

The    Czar    and    the    President    of    France    enter 
(left)  arm  in  arm,  followed  by  the  Sultan. 
KAISER.      Behold   what  happiness  is  ours!      Here  IB 
my  dear  cousin  Nicky  [kisses  the  Czar  effusively].    How 
goes  the  world  with  you  my  cousin?     And  greetings  to 
you,  Mr.   President     [shakes    hands    with    President    of 
France]   even  though  you  are  the  one  Republican  sheep 
in  the  flock.    [All  laugh]    and   the  "Sick   Man"!       [The 
Kaiser  shakes  hands  with  the  Sultan]. 

CZAR.  Thank  you,  dear  kinsman.  My  darling  Crown 
Prince  is  less  robust  than  I  could  wish  and  a  few  trouble 
some  Republicans  who  must  have  imbibed  their  ideas  of 
my  French  friend's  nation,  annoy  me  somewhat  but  in  the 
main  we  feel  ourselves  in  the  hollow  of  God's  hand. 


WORLD  PEACE  13 

Enter  (left)  the  King  of  Servia,  the  King  of  Italy 
and  the  King  of  Belgium  arm  in  arm.  All  turn  to 
greet  them. 

KAISER  [To  the  King  of  Servia].  A  hearty  welcome, 
most  beloved  kinsman.  You  bring  a  welcome  breath  of 
sunny  Southern  skies  and  olive  groves.  God's  blessing  be 
with  you  and  yours.  [Shakes  hands  with  the  Kings  of 
Italy  and  Belgium.] 

KING  OF  SERVIA.  A  thousand  thanks  for  your  good 
tvish.es  and  we  return  them  to  you  a  hundredfold. 

While  the  greetings  of  royalty  have  been  taking 
place    the   business     men,     hankers    and   armament 
maker  gather  in  front  of  the  map  consulting  and 
pointing  to  the  map  to  illustrate  their  arguments. 
German,    French,    Russian    and    English    statesmen 
enter    (left)    and   join   business   men,    bankers   and 
armament  maker  in  front  of  the  map.     An  English 
business  man  steps  a  little  aside  and  calls  an  Eng 
lish  banker  who  in  turn  calls  the  armament  maker. 
ENGLISH   BUSINESS   MAN.       [Aside  to   the   English 
statesman]   The  pressure  of  the  competition  of  German 
trade  is  becoming  unendurable;  the  trade  supremacy  of 
England  threatens  to  slip  from  our  grasp  and  leave  us  a 
second-rate  commercial  power.     You  must  do  something 
in  this  grave  crisis. 

ENGLISH  STATESMAN.  Quite  true.  We  must  find 
some  way  to  strengthen  our  hold  on  the  world  commerce. 
Possibly  our  friend  the  banker,  may  suggest  some  plan, 
since  we  all  know  him  to  be  such  a  practical  man? 

ARMAMENT  MAKER.  [Interrupting]  There  is  but 
one  way  to  maintain  commercial  supremacy:  keep  your 
army  and  navy  up  to  the  highest  point  of  efficiency  and 


U  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  i 

readiness  for  duty.  Cannons  are  the  "last  words  of 
Kings"  and  the  safeguard  of  national  commercial  supre 
macy.  Your  only  hope  is  in  increased  armament. 

ENGLISH  BANKER.  I  concur  in  the  position  of  our 
friend  and  I  stand  ready  to  furnish  the  funds  for  in 
creased  armament.  I  feel  it  my  patriotic  duty  to  sub 
scribe  liberally  to  any  loan  our  royal  master  may  decide 
in  his  wisdom  necessary. 

[The  English  statesman  calls  the  King  of  England 
aside  to  confer  with  him  and  the  English  banker 
while  the  armament  maker  passes  over  to  engage  the 
Kaiser,  the  German  statesman  and  the  German  busi 
ness  man  in  conversation.] 

ENGLISH  STATESMAN.  [To  the  King  of  England] 
Your  Royal  Highness,  we  have  decided  that  the  safety  of 
English  commerce  demands  an  increase  in  armament  and 
the  immediate  raising  of  our  army  and  navy  to  the  high 
est  point  of  efficiency  and  readiness  for  action.  A  German 
war  cloud  is  hovering  over  Europe  and  our  only  hope  of 
maintaining  peace  is  in  preparedness  for  war.  A  most 
liberal  military  appropriation  will  be  necessary.  The 
loyalty  and  patriotism  of  our  great  financiers  have  already 
been  sounded  and  they  stand  ready  to  subscribe  fully  a 
generous  loan. 

KING  OF  ENGLAND.  [With  sadness  and  indecision] 
But  there  are  already  snarls  and  mutters  of  discontent 
among  the  common  people.  They  declare  our  taxes  a  griev 
ous  burden;  I  dread  to  rouse  their  anger  and  resentment. 
Increased  armament  means  heavier  taxes;  heavier  taxes 
may  provoke  a  social  revolution. 

ENGLISH  STATESMAN.  [In  shocked  horror]  Your 
Royal  Higliness,  it  grieves  me  to  the  heart  to  hear  you 


WORLD  PEACE  15 

voice  such  forebodings.  I  pray  you  do  not  give  heed 
to  the  vaporing  of  certain  Labor  M.  P.'s  who  have  wormed 
their  way  into  Parliament  by  playing  on  the  envy  of  the 
discontented  members  of  the  working  class.  The  men  of 
Old  England  are  loyal  sons  and  I  assure  you  their  patriot 
ism  will  rise  above  the  sordid  counting  of  a  few  pennies 
in  taxes  when  you  make  it  clear  that  our  world  commerce 
is  at  stake. 

KING  OF  ENGLAND.  Perhaps  you  are  in  closer  touch 
with  my  subjects  than  I  am  and  I  can  but  trust  to  your 
wisdom  and  loyalty.  Kindly  convey  to  my  parliament  at 
once  my  wish  that  the  necessary  loan  should  be  arranged 
and  bid  our  Minister  for  War  make  every  preparation  to 
strengthen  our  land  and  naval  forces. 

The  Kaiser,  the  German  business  man,  the  German 
banker  and  the  armament  maker  observe  the  action 
of  the  English  statesman  and  the  King  of  England 
with  keen  interest.  The  German  group  moves  near 
to  and  in  front  of  the  map. 

ARMAMENT  MAKER.  [To  the  Kaiser]  Observe,  your 
Royal  Highness,  the  King  of  England  is  a  shrewd  and 
farseeing  ruler.  He  grasps  the  mighty  truth  that  "eternal 
vigilance  is  the  price  of  liberty,"  and  I  chance  to  know 
that  the  message  he  has  just  dispatched  is  to  his  par 
liament  demanding  still  larger  military  and  naval  ex 
penditures  and  through  secret  channels  of  information  I 
know  he  has  heavily  increased  his  armament.  I  under 
stand  the  friendly  relations  existing  between  your  coun 
tries,  but  it  is  always  well  to  be  in  readiness  for  an 
emergency.  The  only  way  to  enforce  peace  is  to  be  well 
prepared  for  war. 

GERMAN  BUSINESS  MAN.      [Addressing  the  German 


16  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  i 

group]     I  fear  we  face  an  Industrial  crisis.    English  guns 
control  every  gateway  for  our  foreign  trade.     Consider 
our  geographical  position:  hemmed  in  on  every  side,  with 
every  path  blocked  by  England.     [Points  to  map]     The 
Straits  of  Dover,  Gibraltar,  Suez — all  English — again,  -we 
have  a  well  organized  working  class  demanding  an  ever 
higher  standard  of  living.    Thus  we  compete  with  English 
business  at  a  frightful  disadvantage.     We  must  have  free 
access  to  the  sea;  we  must  have  more  coal  and  iron  mines 
and  we  must  occupy  the  minds  of  our  working  people 
with  something  else  than  trades  unions  and  socialism.    I 
seriously  fear  that  England  already  has  her  eye  on  our 
sister  nation,   Belgium;    she  has  long   coveted  the  rich 
mineral  wealth  of  that  little  nation  and  it  behooves  us  to 
warn  our  royal  master  that  danger  threatens  from  that 
direction.     It  might  be  well  to  sound  our  bankers  in  re 
gard  to  their  loyalty  in  subscribing  to  a  heavy  loan  to  in 
crease  our  navy  and  to  strengthen  our  Belgian  frontier. 
GERMAN  STATESMAN.     It  shall  be  done  immediately. 
The   German   group   moves   away   from   the   map, 
accompanied    by    the    armament    maker,    and    draw 
closer  together.    The  King  of  England,  the  King  of 
Belgium  and  the  President  of  France  confer  in  whis 
pers  (left).   The  Czar,  the  Russian  business  man  and 
the  Russian  statesman  gather  before  the  map  and 
confer  earnestly,  but  in  words  too  low  to  be  heard. 
The  King  of  Servia  and  the  Emperor  of  Austria-Hun 
gary  eye  each  other  suspiciously   and  try  to  hear 
what  is  being  said  by  the  Russian  group.     The  King 
of  Italy  and  the  Sultan,  left  alone,  glance  first  at  one 
group,  then  another,  look  much  perplexed  and  finally 
light  cigarettes  and  sit  down  to  await  developments. 


WORLD  PEACE  17 

GERMAN  STATESMAN.  [To  the  Kaiser,  indicating  the 
conference  of  the  King  of  England,  the  King  of  Belgium 
and  the  President  of  France]  That  seems  to  hold  a  sin 
ister  threat  for  our  nation,  Your  Royal  Highness. 

GERMAN  BANKER.  [To  the  Kaiser]  If  there  is  any 
question  of  our  preparedness  to  meet  whatever  may  arise, 
my  loyalty  to  the  Kaiser  and  the  Fatherland  demands 
that  I  subscribe  fully  any  loan  necessary  for  our  protec 
tion. 

ARMAMENT  MAKER.  [To  the  Kaiser's  group]  My 
factories  are  equipped  and  my  loyal  workingmen  are 
waiting  to  supply  the  armament  needed  to  protect  the 
Fatherland. 

KAISER.  [To  the  group  around  him]  I  am  a  man  of 
peace,  but  it  is  God's  will  that  I  should  expend  every 
force  to  protect  our  foreign  commerce  and  guard  our 
Empire  from  invasion.  [Turns  to  the  armament  maker] 
I  am  ready  to  sign  the  order  that  will  give  you  the  task 
of  doubling  my  armament,  but  it  is  wise  to  keep  this  fact 
a  secret  for  a  time.  Those  troublesome  and  ungodly  So 
cialists  in  my  Reichstag  will  raise  a  mighty  clatter.  Their 
heads  are  full  of  a  senseless  creed  of  anti-militarism,  in 
ternationalism  and  the  solidarity  of  labor.  Their  rant 
ing  Is  most  distressing  to  my  ears. 

GERMAN  STATESMAN:  True,  Your  Royal  Highness! 
They  are  a  troublesome  lot,  but  we  have  the  support  of 
press  and  pulpit  and  when  the  day  of  action  comes  you 
will  find  that  well-garnished  words  of  patriotism  will 
sway  the  masses. 

The  Kaiser   signs  the  armament   maker's   order 
book,  and  the  armament  maker  passes  over  to  where 


18  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  i 

the  Czar,  the  Russian  business  man,  the  Russian 
banker  and  the  Russian  statesman  stand  before  the 
map  of  Europe.  The  King  of  Serria  and  the  Emperor 
of  Austria-Hungary  glare  at  each  other  with  in 
creasing  anger  and  watch  the  actions  of  the  Russian 
group  with  breathless  interest.] 

RUSSIAN  BUSINESS  MAN.  We  face  a  crisis  that 
means  life  and  death  to  the  Russian  nation.  With  an 
Empire  greater  than  all  of  South  America,  rich  but  un 
developed,  and  a  vigorous  working  class,  we  are  ham 
pered  commercially.  The  business  Interests  of  a  nation 
fatten  not  on  what  that  nation  can  produce,  but  what  it 
can  sell  to  other  nations.  Whilst  we  conquered  the  Tartar 
hordes  other  nations  captured  the  commerce  of  the  world 
and  have  built  national  barriers  that  surround  us  on 
every  side.  The  wares  that  we  would  sell  and  the  goods 
that  we  would  buy  from  other  nations  must  all  pass 
under  the  hostile  cannons  of  a  single  nation,  Germany 
and  her  allies.  England,  France,  Belgium  and  North 
America  would  all  be  glad  to  trade  with  us,  but  the 
cursed  German  greed  dams  the  flow  of  trade;  and  we, 
the  greatest  nation  on  earth,  with  the  largest  territory 
and  most  numerous  population,  are  reduced  to  the  shame 
ful  position  of  being  imprisoned  like  a  felon  in  a  cell  and 
exploited  for  the  commercial  glory  of  the  German  nation. 
If  we  would  live  we  must  have  access  to  the  open  sea. 
[He  turns  and  points  to  the  map]  We  have  four  navies 
on  four  seas,  all  isolated  from  each  other.  Here  to  the 
Northwest  there  are  not  only  natural  barriers,  but  our 
shipping  must  pass  under  the  cannons  of  Germany.  Here 
to  the  Southwest  our  only  pathway  is  closed  by  Austria, 
and  to  the  South  the  Dardanelles,  under  German  influ- 


WORLD  PEACE  19 

ence,  block  us.  We  must  cut  a  road  to  the  Mediterranean 
Sea,  that  our  shipping  may  reach  the  ocean  roads  of  com 
merce  unharassed  by  German  influences.  The  question 
is:  How  shall  it  be  done? 

ARMAMENT  MAKER.  There  is  but  one  way.  The 
tools  I  forge  are  the  only  ones  that  will  cleave  the  path 
your  soul  desires.  The  ruler  to  the  West  [pointing  to 
the  Kaiser]  already  knows  that  you  want  that  free  path 
way  to  the  sea  and  he  has  just  strengthened  the  arma 
ment  of  his  nation  to  shut  you  out.  It  behooves  you  to 
plow  it  with  my  cannons,  and  do  it  soon,  ere  the  strength 
of  the  Kaiser's  arm  becomes  too  great  for  you. 

RUSSIAN  STATESMAN.  He  is  right.  And  I  chance  to 
know  through  the  secret  channels  of  diplomacy  that  Ser- 
via  will  be  glad  to  join  with  us;  she  fears  her  ancient 
enemy,  Austria-Hungary.  Turkey  is  a  weak  and  senile 
nation.  Bulgaria  is  worn  by  war  and  Montenegro  is  but 
a  dainty  morsel  for  our  appetite.  Now  is  the  time  to 
strike.  If  the  honor  and  glory  of  Russia  is  to  grow  we 
must  sell  the  very  coats  from  off  our  backs  if  necessary 
to  buy  the  armament  we  need  for  this  bold  stroke  for 
freedom. 

RUSSIAN  BANKER.  It  is  not  necessary.  My  loyalty 
to  the  Czar  and  Fatherland  makes  it  my  patriotic  duty  to 
subscribe  fully  any  loan  that  may  be  necessary  to  protect 
and  enhance  our  national  honor. 

KING  OF  ENGLAND.  [To  his  group]  God!  This 
weight  of  militarism  is  a  heavy  burden  to  carry;  some 
times  I  feel  it  will  crush  us  utterly. 

ENGLISH  BANKER.  True,  Your  Royal  Highness,  but 
the  military  insanity  of  the  Kaiser  makes  it  necessary. 


20  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  i 

KAISER.  [To  his  group]  The  clatter  of  those  ungodly 
Socialists  and  the  clamor  of  discontent  among  my  work 
ing  people  almost  deafen  me.  Gathering  military  taxes 
when  there  is  no  war  is  a  thankless  Job. 

GERMAN  STATESMAN.  [To  the  Kaiser.]  True,  Your 
Royal  Highness,  "uneasy  lies  the  head  that  wears  a 
crown,"  but  divine  wisdom  made  you  king  and  the  greed 
and  avarice  of  England  make  It  necessary  for  the  Father 
land  to  bear  a  heavy  burden  of  military  cost. 

CZAR.  [To  his  group]  Siberia  and  salt  mine,  dungeon 
and  prison  cell,  knout  and  bayonet  do  not  still  the  snarls 
of  discontent  among  the  rabble  against  the  military  tax. 
I  am  sick  at  soul  of  it  all. 

RUSSIAN  BANKER.  True,  Most  Noble  Czar,  but  you 
were  ordained  of  God  to  rule  the  rabble,  and  their  sordid 
minds  cannot  comprehend  that  the  greed  and  lust  for  con 
quest  of  the  Kaiser  makes  the  heavy  burden  necessary. 

EMPEROR  OF  AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.  [Speaking  to 
the  King  of  Servia]  Why  do  you  eye  me  with  so  much 
bitterness  and  suspicion?  I  am  your  most  loyal  friend. 
I  trust  you  fully,  for  I  have  just  sent  my  young  prince  on 
a  friendly  visit  to  your  capital. 

KING  OF  SERVIA.  You  misjudge  me;  I  have  no  anger 
or  suspicion  in  my  heart,  only  love  and  veneration  for 
you  and  your  long  and  glorious  reign. 

The  Austrian  Archduke  staggers  In  [left],  stum 
bles  across  the  stage  to  the  Emperor  of  Austria-Hun 
gary.  The  Emperor  clasps  him  in  his  arms  and  eases 
his  body  into  a  chair  near  a  table. 

AUSTRIAN  ARCHDUKE.  A  Servian  hireling  has  mor 
tally  stricken  me.  [Falls  forward  on  table,  dead.] 

EMPEROR  OF  AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.  [Turning  to  King 


WORLD  PEACE  21 

of  Servia]  I  know  the  blackness  of  your  heart.  You  have 
not  deceived  me.  I  know  that  you  have  plotted  with  the 
brutal  Czar  to  tear  a  pathway  through  my  nation  to  the 
sea;  you  would  have  dismembered  my  country  like  a 
joint  upon  a  butcher's  block.  Not  satisfied  with  such 
black-hearted  treachery,  your  hirelings  have  murdered 
my  prince.  I  swear  that  you  shall  pay  for  this;  I  shall 
appeal  to  the  Kaiser,  and  we  will  tear  your  country  into 
shreds. 

KING  OF  SERVIA.  And  I  shall  appeal  to  the  Czar  and 
we  will  crush  you  both. 

Emperor  of  Austria-Hungary  turns  to  the  Kaiser. 

EMPEROR  OF  AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.  I  must  avenge 
the  death  of  my  prince,  but  fear  Russia. 

KAISER.  I  will  protect  you.  [Steps  close  to  Emperor 
of  Austria-Hungary] 

KING  OF  SERVIA.  [Moves  to  the  Czar's  side]  Nicho 
las,  I  need  your  aid. 

CZAR.     The  ties  of  blood  bind  us  together. 

The  other  rulers  listen  with  apprehension;  France 
and  England  move  to  the  Russian  and  Servian 
group.  The  Kings  of  Belgium  and  Italy  and  the  Sul 
tan  of  Turkey  stand  indecisive. 

KAISER.  I  have  feared  this.  Russia  and  France  are 
even  now  marching  across  my  frontiers.  I  shall  hurl  an 
army  through  Belgium  at  once.  It  is  the  only  way. 

KING  OF  BELGIUM.  But  we  are  neutral — our  treaty — 

KAISER.  A  scrap  of  paper  cannot  stand  in  the  way 
of  German  safety. 

KING  OF  ENGLAND.  Germany  violates  Belgium  neu 
trality!  [Turns  to  France]  Eng'and  must  protect  the 


22  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  i 

integrity  of  smaller  nations — we  join  with  you  and  the 
Czar. 

CZAR.  I  thank  you  both  for  your  aid  in  this  war  of 
freedom. 

King  of  Belgium  joins  the  English  and  French 
groups. 

PRESIDENT  OF  FRANCE.  God  and  humanity  call  UB 
to  take  this  step.  France  will  answer  to  a  man,  for  the 
bitter  score  of  1870  is  still  unpaid  and  Germany  still 
holds  my  Alsace  and  Lorraine. 

The  orchestra  breaks  into  a  clamor  of  discordant 
sounds  which  sound  louder  and  louder.  The  involved 
rulers  rush  to  the  center  of  the  stage,  each  shout 
ing  to  their  respective  people,  "The  Fatherland  is 
attacked,  rush  to  the  defense." 

The  King  of  Italy  stands  undecided  by  his  chair  as 
the  clamor  breaks — shrugs  his  shoulders,  tosses 
aside  his  cigarette. 

KING  OF  ITALY.  [To  the  Sultan]  I  don't  need  any 
more  seaports;  neither  do  I  seem  to  possess  any  com 
merce  that  anyone  wants  to  take  away  from  me,  and  I 
am  somewhat  at  loss  to  know  just  what  I  should  do.  Of 
course,  a  treaty  is  a  treaty  and  should  be  kept,  but  with 
war  abroad  and  my  Parliament  full  of  Socialists  at  home 
I  think  neutrality  is  best  for  me.  [Leisurely  lights  an 
other  cigarette,  ponders  and  walks  slowly  off  stage  [left] , 
followed  by  Sultan.] 

With  the  appearance  of  their  rulers,  and  as  the 
crash  of  the  impending  war  is  heard,  the  peasants 
spring  to  their  feet  in  astonishment  and  fear.  Each 
national  group  huddles  together,  mothers  fran 
tically  gather  their  children  into  their  arms  and 


WORLD  PEACE  23 

women  and  children  cling  terror-stricken  to  the  men. 

KAISER.  [To  his  people]  The  unspeakable  Slav,  sup 
ported  by  the  French,  has  invaded  the  sacred,  blood- 
bought  soil  of  the  Fatherland  from  both  frontiers.  Your 
God  and  Kaiser  calls  you  to  the  defense.  To  arms!  To 
arms,  noble  sons. 

PRESIDENT  OF  FRANCE.  [To  his  people]  The 
haughty  Teuton  marches  on  us  and  would  grind  France 
beneath  his  mailed  heel.  Arise,  ye  sons  of  France,  and 
drive  the  invader  into  the  sea,  and  God  shall  be  your 
ally. 

CZAR.  [To  his  people]  The  German  hordes  swarm 
over  the  borderland  and  would  subject  Russia  to  hu 
miliation  and  wipe  our  glorious  name  from  the  map  of 
Europe.  God  and  the  Czar  call  you  to  the  battle  line. 

KING  OF  ENGLAND.  [To  his  people]  The  German 
barbarians  would  drive  Britannia  from  the  seas  and  wrest 
from  us  our  heritage  of  glory  and  supremacy.  They  have 
violated  the  neutrality  of  the  peaceful  and  inoffensive 
Belgians.  England,  the  protector  of  all  weaker  sister 
nations,  calls  you  to  arms!  My  faithful  sons,  humble  the 
Prussian  despot,  sustain  the  honor  of  old  England  and 
protect  the  neutrality  of  weaker  nations.  Your  God  and 
King  calls  you  to  wage  this  holy  war  of  liberty. 

ALL  RULERS  IN  UNISON.  [To  their  respective  peo 
ple]  It  is  a  war  for  freedom  and  against  invasion.  Your 
God  and  your  country  call  you  to  the  battle  line  to  repel 
the  invaders. 

GERMAN,  FRENCH,  ENGLISH  AND  RUSSIAN 
WORKINGMEN.  [Crying  in  chorus]  We  will  not  go  to 
war,  those  men  across  the  line  are  our  brothers  and  we 
will  not  murder  them. 


24  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  i 

RULERS.  [Answer  in  Chorus]  Already  we  are  in 
vaded  and  those  brother  workingmen  of  yours  are  arm 
ing  to  murder  you. 

WORKINGMEN.  [Each  turning  to  his  own  group] 
Great  God!  What  treachery.  We  must  kill  or  be  killed. 

An  Irishman  stands  his  little  daughter  on  a  chair 
and  clasps  her  and  his  wife  hi  his  arms.  The  mother 
weeps  bitterly. 

IRISH  CHILD.  Mammy,  why  does  daddy  look  so  sad 
and  why  does  mammy  cry? 

IRISH  MOTHER.  The  king  has  called  daddy  to  go  to 
war  and  fight  for  him. 

IRISH  CHILD.     The  English  king? 

IRISH  MOTHER.   Yes,  darling. 

IRISH  CHILD.  But,  mammy,  the  English  king  has 
treated  the  Irish  people  bitter  hard  for  so  many  years; 
why  should  daddy  fight  for  him? 

IRISH  MOTHER.  My  God!  child,  you  can't  under 
stand;  it's  war. 

IRISH  CHILD.     What  is  war? 

IRISH  MOTHER.  War  is  where  men  go  to  kill  tfceir 
enemies. 

IRISH  CHILD.   Who  are  enemie*? 

IRISH  MOTHER.    Men  of  other  nations,  darling. 

IRISH  CHILD.    Are  they  other  little  girls'   daddies? 

IRISH  MOTHER.    Yes,  child. 

IRISH  CHILD.  Daddy,  are  you  going  to  kill  some 
other  little  girl's  daddy?  Don't  she  love  her  daddy  and 
won't  she  cry? 

Fathers  embrace  wives  and  children,  brothers  em 
brace  sisters,  and  lovers  sweethearts. 


WORLD  PEACE  25 

Clergyman  [enters  left]  walks  to  center  of  stage 
and  addresses  people. 

CLERGYMAN.  God  and  king  have  called  each  man  to 
his  colors  to  "wage  this  holy  war.  In  every  war  some  men 
must  fall.  Your  nation  has  need  of  sons,  so  tarry  at  my 
altar  ere  ye  answer  the  bugle  call  and  I  will  wed  ye  to 
the  woman  of  your  choice.  God  and  your  king  command 
that  ye  breed  before  ye  die. 

CURTAIN. 


ACT  II 


[LEFT  STAGE]  The  peasant  women  of  the  war 
ring  nations  are  grouped  in  a  semi-circle,  each  na 
tional  group  huddled  together  and  seated  on  low 
stools.  Their  children  are  crouching  at  their  feet 
and  hiding  behind  their  skirts.  The  neutrals  are 
grouped  together  at  the  extreme  left  and  slightly 
behind  the  warring  nations.  The  women  of  the  war 
ring  nations  are  anguish-stricken  and  weeping,  and 
the  people  of  the  neutral  nations  seem  frightened 
and  anxious.  The  noise  and  turmoil  of  war  is  heard 
in  the  distance  and  with  each  fresh  outbreak  the 
people  of  the  neutral  nations  grow  more  agitated. 

[BIGHT  STAGE]  America  and  Columbia  are 
seated  on  a  flag-draped  dais.  The  American  business 
man,  American  banker,  American  speculator  and  the 
"drummer"  are  grouped  near.  They  listen  to  the 
thunder  of  war  and  gaze  on  the  terror-stricken 
women  and  children  with  pity. 
COLUMBIA.  Great  God!  How  frightful.  It  makes  my 

senses  reel  and  my  soul  sick  to  think  of  such  horrors. 

How  can  such  things  be  In  a  world  of  culture  and  civiliza- 

27 


28  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  n 

tlon?    Has  the  world  gone  stark,  raving  mad  with  the 
lust  for  blood? 

AMERICA.  Not  at  all.  This  war  Is  but  the  outcome 
of  civilized  industrial  life.  It  Is  distressing,  it  is  true,  but 
you  should  not  allow  sentiment  to  overshadow  your  prac 
tical  common  sense.  Just  think  what  a  wonderful  op 
portunity  for  business.  [Columbia  shudders  and  hides 
her  eyes  from  the  appalling  scene.] 

COLUMBIA.  How  terrible  to  think  of  business,  when 
millions  of  human  lives  are  lost,  culture  and  art  tram 
pled  Into  the  dust,  and  civilization  dragged  back  into 
savagery. 

AMERICA.  Quite  true,  but  It  Is  business  that  rules 
the  world  to-day  and  not  sentiment. 

A  continuous  stream  of  porters,  carrying  shoes, 
harness,  saddles,  clothing,  bags  of  wheat,  guns  and 
boxes  of  ammunition,  enter  [right],  cross  in  front  of 
the  weeping  women  and  pass  on  their  way  to  the 
battlefield. 

AMERICA.  There!  Observe  how  foolish  your  ob 
jections.  A  stream  of  wealth  is  pouring  from 
our  shores  to  the  warring  nations  and  a  stream  of  good 
European  gold  will  come  back  to  us. 

COLUMBIA.  But  the  gold  Is  all  stained  with  human 
blood,  and  our  own  working  people  are  starving  for  the 
food  we  send  to  feed  this  war. 

AMERICA.  Mere  Socialistic  cant!  The  priests,  bish 
ops  and  church  dignitaries  have  all  expressed  their  opin 
ion  that  it  Is  a  holy  war.  I  have  questioned  my  states 
men  and  they  declare  that  It  Is  being  conducted  according 
to  the  rules  of  world  diplomacy;  I  have  received  advice 
from  our  great  captains  of  finance  and  they  declare  the 


WORLD  PEACE  29 

war  good  for  business.     God  ordained  these  wise  men  to 
guide  our  destinies.    Be  content  woman,  be  content! 

Peasant  women  rise  one  by  one  and  cluster  in  cen 
ter  of  stage  for  conference.  They  appeal  to  a  Hun 
garian  woman  to  carry  a  message  to  America  plead 
ing  for  intercession. 

GERMAN  WOMAN.  Go,  sister,  to  the  great  land  across 
the  sea  and  beg  mighty  America  to  stop  this  slaughter. 

FRENCH  WOMAN.  Hurry,  sister,  ere  It  Is  too  late. 
The  great  Napoleon  once  said  that  armies  travel  on  their 
stomachs,  and  the  granaries  of  Europe  are  bare  of  food. 
If  America  will  sell  our  war  lords  no  more  food,  the  war 
must  cease.  We  may  starve,  but  better  far  to  die  of  hun 
ger  than  to  be  maimed  with  shot  and  torn  with  shell. 

AUSTRIAN  WOMAN.  America  Is  tender  of  heart  and 
mighty  In  power;  go  tell  how  bitter  are  our  sufferings, 
that  her  mighty  strength  may  bring  us  peace. 

RUSSIAN  WOMAN.  Go,  tell  the  generous  America  that 
the  arms  she  sends  across  the  sea  but  prolong  this  hell  of 
war.  Every  bullet  may  make  a  widow,  every  shrapnel  a 
dozen  orphans,  and  the  dum-dum  kills  not  alone  the  body 
of  the  man  on  the  firing  line  but  the  heart  and  soul  of  the 
woman  left  behind. 

ENGLISH  WOMAN.  Go,  sister,  and  voice  the  cry  of 
the  harried,  war-stricken  women  of  Europe,  and  surely 
the  great,  tender  heart  of  America  will  heed  our  cry  and 
send  us  help. 

SERVIAN  WOMAN.  America  is  called  "The  Home  of 
the  Brave  and  the  Land  of  the  Free."  God  grant  that  the 
"free"  may  near  the  cry  of  the  slaves  of  the  war  gods  and 
make  of  our  bravery  our  salvation. 

MESSENGER.     I  will  be  your  messenger. 


30  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  n 

ALL  WOMEN.  [In  unison)  God  speed  you  on  your 
way.  God  send  us  peace. 

The  Messenger  crosses   stage  and  kneels   before 
America  to  make  her  plea. 

MESSENGER.  Oh!  Great  and  powerful  nation,  I  come 
as  the  living  voice  of  all  the  war-cursed  women  of  Eu 
rope.  I  kneel  at  your  feet  and  supplicate  for  the  strength 
of  your  might  and  the  humanity  of  your  heart  that  alone 
can  save  the  continent  of  Europe  from  utter  ruin  and  de 
spair.  Europe  to-day  is  one  vast  charnel  house,  her 
highways  are  shambles,  her  farms  are  graveyards,  her 
fields  are  quagmires  soaked  in  human  blood  and  pol 
luted  with  rotting  human  flesh.  Our  factories,  mills, 
mines  and  workshops  are  idle  while  the  workingmen  fight, 
die  and  rot  in  the  trenches.  Already  the  pick  and  flower 
of  European  young  manhood  have  been  transformed  into 
bloated  corpses  whose  stench  pollutes  the  air,  while 
famine  and  pestilence  hover  like  vultures  over  every 
nation. 

AMERICA.  True,  my  dear  madam!  You  have  my 
heartfelt  sympathy.  I  will  call  my  people  to  gather  in 
the  churches  and  hold  a  day  of  prayer. 

MESSENGER.  A  most  pious  thing  to  do,  no  doubt, 
but  long  and  bitter  experience  has  taught  us  that  God 
is  always  on  the  side  of  the  army  with  the  best  guns, 
and  since  there  are  guns  enough  in  Europe  and  being 
manufactured  in  your  armament  factories  to  shoot  the 
happiness  of  the  women  of  Europe  into  fragments  we  are 
loath  to  wait  until  the  guns  decide  whom  God  shall  help. 
If  agonized  prayers  could  have  brought  us  peace  we  would 
not  have  appealed  to  you.  From  a  million  agonized  souls 
in  Europe  prayers  are  ascending  at  this  moment. 


WORLD  PEACE  31 

AMERICA.  My  heart  is  with  you,  but,  of  course,  I  can 
take  no  official  notice  of  your  plea.  Home  is  the  place 
for  women;  men  must  settle  the  quarrels  of  nations  in 
the  manly  way.  Go  home  to  your  children  and  in  God's 
good  time  the  war  will  end. 

MESSENGER.  But  listen,  O!  great  nation,  we  have 
no  homes.  Millions  of  our  men  have  been  taken  from  us. 
How  many  are  slain  we  do  not  know,  but  we  do  know  that 
every  time  the  sun  passes  from  east  to  west  thousands 
die.  Our  homes  have  been  destroyed  and  more  crumble 
every  time  a  cannon  roars  or  a  shrapnel  falls.  Our  pro 
tectors  are  gone  and  thousands  of  women  in  Europe  bear 
beneath  their  anguished  hearts  the  little  lives  that  have 
been  conceived  in  force,  that  will  be  nurtured  in  blazing 
hate  and  that  will  be  born  to  deeds  of  violence  and  insan 
ity.  In  a  few  weeks  the  Belgian  women  will  give  life  to  the 
hated  offspring  of  the  German  invaders;  the  outraged 
Polish  women  will  bear  the  fruit  of  the  hellish  lust  of  the 
Russian  soldiers,  and  so  the  cruel,  brutal  story  runs,  in 
volving  every  warring  nation  and  bearing  in  its  train  hor 
rors  too  frightful  for  human  mind  to  grasp. 

AMERICA.    Madam,  what  would  you  have  me  do? 

MESSENGER.  I  would  have  you  order  back  into  the 
harbor  every  ship  loaded  with  food,  either  for  sale  or  to 
be  given  in  charity.  Every  pound  of  food  you  send  the 
warring  nations  but  helps  the  war  lords  to  continue  the 
slaughter.  I  would)  have  you  forbid  the  exportation  of 
arms  and  ammunition.  But  for  the  armament  you  make 
and  sell  the  warring  nations,  the  murder  must  cease.  In 
the  name  of  womanhood,  childhood  and  humanity,  I  de 
mand  that  you  stop  the  sale  of  war  supplies  and  proffer 
mediation  to  the  warring  nations. 


32  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  n 

AMERICA.  But,  Madam,  why  do  you  come  to  m»?  I 
am  only  one  nation  and  have  problems  enough  at  home 
without  Interfering  In  your  European  war. 

MESSENGER.  True  you  are  only  one  nation,  but  you 
are  the  dominant  nation  of  the  Western  world.  You  set 
the  precedent  of  dictation  of  European  politics  when  by 
your  Monroe  Doctrine  you  said  no  king  or  emperor  should 
come  to  the  Western  world  and  extend  his  dominions.  You 
have  enforced  that  edict,  not  with  battleship  and  cannon, 
but  with  moral  power,  and  because  of  it  two  great  con 
tinents  are  made  up  of  sister  republics  who  live  in  peace 
and  harmony.  Two  score  of  republics  stretch  from  pole 
to  pole  and  their  thousands  of  miles  of  boundary  lines 
are  unprotected  by  forts  or  soldiers,  and  these  two-score 
governments  are  free  from  the  curse  of  militarism. 
America  is  the  mother  of  republics,  and  when  you  speak 
it  will  not  be  for  one  nation,  but  for  the  twenty  that  oc 
cupy  the  Western  continent.  Every  ruler  of  the  Western 
world  will  Join  in  the  proffer  of  mediation,  but  you  must 
lead  the  way  in  this,  as  in  the  building  of  republics. 

The  neutral  nations  of  Europe  are  only  waiting  for 
your  leadership.  They  hate  this  war,  but  are  powerless  to 
act  lest  they  be  crushed. 

The  common  people  of  the  warring  nations  have  no 
quarrel  with  each  other  and  loathe  the  part  they  play  In 
the  orgy  of  murder,  but  they,  too,  are  helpless  victims. 
The  power  to  atop  not  qnly  this  war,  but  cast  the  god 
war  chained  into  the  pit,  and  to  rescue  all  mankind  from 
his  domination,  is  yours.  Have  you  the  courage  to  act? 

AMERICA.  Great  God!  How  I  long  to  take  the  step, 
but  I  am  bound  by  unseen  bonds — the  domination  of 
business  interests — and  Europe  will  not  listen. 


WORLD  PEACE  33 

MESSENGER.  Warfare  is  to  business  what  drunken 
ness  is  to  a  weary  man;  false  strength,  false  power  that 
must  be  paid  for  in  deadly  reaction.  And  Europe  will  be 
glad  to  listen. 

The  porters  continue  to  carry  their  wares  across 
the  stage. 

America  calls  the  American  banker,  speculator  and 
business  man  for  consultation. 

AMERICA.  [Pointing  to  messenger]  You  have  heard 
the  woman's  plea.  What  is  your  answer? 

AMERICAN  BANKER.  Preposterous!  What  insolence 
and  presumption.  Pray  tell  me  what  do  women  know  of 
war  or  finance! 

SPECULATOR.  Impracticable!  We  have  no  call  to 
interfere. 

DRUMMER.  [Elbowing  his  way  to  the  front]  Say, 
Sam,  take  it  from  me,  if  you  let  women  butt  in  on  this 
proposition  hell  will  be  popping.  They  don't  give  a  damn 
for  business;  they  are  sentimentalists.  Duck  the  petti 
coats,  old  man,  or  we  are  in  for  trouble. 

AMERICAN  BANKER.  My  friend  is  a  little  crude  in 
his  manner  of  expression,  but  quite  sound  as  to  logic. 
Allow  me  to  donate  half  a  million  dollars  to  a  fund  to 
send  doctors  and  nurses  to  Europe.  It  has  always  been 
the  duty  of  womankind  to  bind  up  the  wounds  of  the 
fallen,  and  If  we  can  fix  the  minds  of  women  on  the  noble 
work  of  nursing,  they  will  not  trouble  us  about  an  em 
bargo  or  mediation. 

DRUMMER.  Good.  I'll  help  in  that.  [Hastily  draws 
a  roll  of  bills  from  his  pocket  and  tosses  it  to  banker.] 

America  turns  and  pats  the  Messenger  on  the  head 
with  a  fatherly  air. 


34  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  n 

AMERICA.  Madam,  my  heart  bleeds  for  you  and  the 
women  of  your  unhappy  continent.  I  shall  send  Medical 
Science,  one  of  God's  best  gifts  to  man,  and  Red  Cross, 
the  concrete  expression  of  tender  womanhood,  to  aid  you 
in  your  day  of  sorrow. 

America  beckons  and  Medical  Science,  a  young 
man  physician,  and  Red  Cross,  a  young  woman  nurse, 
enter  [right].  America  gives  each  an  emergency 
case  and  they  pass  over  to  the  weeping  women,  who 
view  them  without  interest,  and  the  pair  pass  on  to 
the  battlefield.  [Leave  stage  left,] 

MESSENGER.  [To  America]  Believe  me,  I  am  grate 
ful  for  your  tenderness  of  heart  and  for  your  desire  to 
succor  us  in  our  day  of  need,  but  I  am  not  satisfied.  Of 
•what  value  to  us  will  it  be  to  have  Medical  Science  and 
Red  Cross  bind  up  the  wounds  and  heal  the  hurts  of  our 
loved  ones,  if,  when  they  are  healed,  they  must  again  go 
back  to  murder  and  be  murdered? 

Red  Cross  or  Medical  Science  can  bring  no  happiness 
to  the  hearts  or  ease  to  the  souls  of  the  women  and  chil 
dren  of  war-cursed  Europe. 

AMERICA.  Ah!  Quite  true,  Madam,  I  understand. 
We  must  care  for  the  women  and  children  also.  I  will 
call  my  faithful  aids,  who  have  always  been  able  to  com 
fort  my  working  people  when  strikes  and  lockouts,  gun 
men  and  Cossacks  have  brought  death  and  suffering  to 
their  humble  homes.  I  shall  call  Charity  and  Religion  to 
you.  [America  beckons,  and  Charity,  a  young  woman 
dressed  in  black,  and  Religion,  a  young  clergyman,  enter 
right.  They  stand  before  America,  who  hands  to 
Charity  a  basket  of  bread  and  to  Religion  a  Bible.  [Char 
ity  and  Religion  start  to  go.] 


WORLD  PEACE  35 

[The  drummer,  suitcase  in  hand,  is  starting  for 
Europe.  He  bumps  into  Religion  accidentally  and 
almost  topples  him  over.] 

DRUMMER.  Beg  your  pardon,  parson!  I  have  to  hus 
tle  to  keep  up  with  my  Job  these  days;  business  is  simply 
humming. 

RELIGION.  I  am  happy  to  hear  you  say  so,  brother, 
for  I  am  on  my  way  to  carry  the  consolation  of  religion 
to  the  unhappy  continent  of  Europe  and  I  trust  you  •will 
contribute  liberally. 

DRUMMER.  Sure!  Just  hold  this  stuff  while  I  write 
a  check.  [Thrusts  his  sample  case,  order  book  and  grip 
on  Religion,  who  stands  and  holds  them  awkwardly.  The 
drummer  writes  a  check,  speaking  as  he  writes.]  Well, 
take  it  from  me,  parson,  the  poor  ginks  need  all  the  con 
solation  they  can  get  over  there.  That  country  is  sure 
messed  up  something  fierce. 

RELIGION.  I  am  happy  to  perceive  that  you  have  a 
tender  heart  and  a  realization  of  your  Christian  duty. 

DRUMMER.    Sure,  Mike! 

RELIGION.  I  am  happy  to  have  been  chosen  to  carry 
the  message  of  Christ  to  our  unhappy  brothers  and  sisters. 

DRUMMER.  What!  Carry  the  message  of  Christ? 
Say,  do  you  think  I  am  going  to  put  up  my  good  money 
to  have  you  spilling  that  "Peace  on  earth,  good  will  to 
men"  bunk  around  over  Europe  now?  I  should  say  not! 
Peace  on  earth!  Nix!  Not  when  our  factories  are  run 
ning  twenty-four  hours  a  day,  not  when  we  are  getting  a 
hundred  per  cent  advance  on  our  shoes,  not  when  unem 
ployment  here  in  the  United  States  makes  it  possible  for 
us  to  work  our  employes  twelve  hours  a  day  and  cut 


36  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  n 

wages  to  the  bone.  Say,  "we  can  get  a  full  grown  man  for 
nine  dollars  a  week,  a  peach  of  a  girl  for  four  and  kids! 
Pshaw!  They  are  so  cheap  we  buy  them  by  the  carload. 

RELIGION.  Brother,  I  rejoice  in  your  prosperity,  but 
is  there  not  serious  danger  of  undermining  the  morals 
of  your  females  by  compelling  them  to  wor.k  for  so  in 
adequate  a  wage  as  four  dollars  per  week? 

DRUMMER.  Morals!  What  in  hell  haa  morals  got  to 
do  with  making  shoes?  I  don't  suppose  it  is  particularly 
moral  for  us  to  send  our  shoes  over  there  so  the  poor 
boobs  can  wade  through  the  snow  to  shoot  each  others' 
head  off,  but  it's  darn  good  business.  See,  here,  parson, 
If  you  haven't  a  better  line  on  morals  and  business  than 
that,  I  don't  think  I  can  trust  you  to  spend  my  money. 
[Starts  to  put  the  check  back  in  his  pocket.] 

RELIGION.  [In  agitation]  You  misunderstood  me 
quite,  brother!  I  see  your  viewpoint  clearly.  It  is  the 
message  of  Paul  I  wish  to  carry. 

DRUMMER.  Sure!  Paul  was  all  right!  He  was  a  good 
old  scout.  You  Just  throw  that  stuff  of  Paul's  about  "ser 
vants,  obey  your  masters,"  and  "women,  if  you  want  to 
know  anything,  ask  the  old  man  at  home"  around  in  good 
big  chunks  and  send  me  a  bill  for  the  chunks.  So  long! 
I  got  to  keep  moving.  [Drummer  thrusts  check  in  Relig 
ion's  hand,  snatches  his  sample  case  and  rushes  away.] 
[Exit  left.] 

Religion  and  Charity  pass  over  to  the  weeping 
women,  who  dumbly  accept  their  offerings,  impa 
tiently  reject  them,  or  sadly  turn  away. 

RELIGION  [Stoops  and  speaks  to  a  Belgian  child] 
Here,  my  dear  little  child,  is  a  tract  and  a  nice  bun  this 
good,  sweet  lady  and  I  have  brought  you.  You  must  pray 


WORLD  PEACE  37 

God  every  night  to  bless  the  kind  gentleman  in  America 
who  sent  us. 

BELGIAN  CHILD.  I  don't  want  no  bun.  I  don't  want 
no  tract.  I  want  my  father.  I  want  to  go  home.  My 
grandpa  is  shot  and  my  auntie  is  lying  in  the  ditch  all 
bloody.  I  don't  like  tracts  and  buns  and  war.  I  want  to 
go  home. 

RELIGION.     What  shocking  manners. 

BELGIAN  MOTHER.  Leave  the  child  alone.  He  had 
better  starve  than  to  grow  up  to  be  cannon  meat. 

Religion  and  Charity  pass  down  the  lines  of 
women  and  children,  meeting  with  indifference  or 
rebuffs.  They  pause  near  left  exit. 

RELIGION.  [Speaks  with  deep  sadness]  Sister,  it  is 
very  evident  that  this  is  no  place  for  us.  These  people 
are  stiff  of  neck,  hard  of  heart  and  adamant  to  the  gen 
tle  voice  of  piety.  Let  us  retire  to  some  quiet  spot  and 
meditate  and  pray  for  their  conversion.  [Both  leave 
left.] 

MESSENGER.  [To  America]  Bear  with  .me,  O! 
mighty  nation,  if  I  still  plead.  My  sisters  In  yonder  un 
happy  land  are  in  desperate  plight  and  you  are  our  only 
hope.  Do  not  think  us  ungrateful  for  all  your  charity. 
We  know  the  heart  of  America  is  tender  and  the  sympa 
thy  of  America  is  universal,  but  every  loaf  of  bread  you 
send  across  the  water  but  leaves  another  penny  in  the  war 
lord's  chest  with  which  to  wage  the  war. 

AMERICA.  Oh!  Begone,  woman.  Begone!  You  drive 
me  mad  with  your  insistence.  Governments  do  not  take 
into  account  womankind.  There  is  no  place  in  our  world 
diplomacy  for  the  voice  of  woman.  Leave  me  in  peace 
that  I  may  consult  with  those  to  whom  I  must  account 


38  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  n 

for  my  every  official  act  for  the  furtherance  of  the  busi 
ness  interests  and  the  material  prosperity  of  my  nation. 
[America  turns  from  the  woman  and  consults  with  bank- 
ei'S  and  business  men  who  stand  grouped  near  the  dais.J 
The  messenger  rises  and  passes  over  to  Columbia 
and  starts  to  kneel.    Columbia  hastily  raises  her  to 
her  feet  and  places  an  arm  about  her  shoulder. 

COLUMBIA.  Do  not  kneel  to  me,  sister.  To-day  it  is 
your  sons  who  fall  in  battle,  to-morrow  it  may  be  mine. 
In  the  travail  of  giving  life  to  sons  we  have  been  initiated 
into  the  holy  sisterhood  of  mothers.  The  blood  seal  of  giv 
ing  life  has  sealed  us  unto  a  sisterhood  that  shall  with 
stand  the  assault  of  creed  and  race,  hate  and  war,  death 
and  the  grave.  Like  you,  I  now  have  no  voice  In  po 
litical  government.  The  time  has  come  for  united  woman 
kind  to  declare  that  if  we  bear  the  sons,  we,  too,  shall 
have  a  voice  in  the  parliaments  that  send  them  forth  to 
murder  and  be  murdered.  [Addressing  herself  to  Amer 
ica]  I  array  myself  beside  this  woman.  I  am  in  accord 
with  her  demands  that  the  exportation  of  foodstuffs  and 
munitions  of  war  shall  stop  and  that  America  shall  de 
mand  and  secure  mediation. 

AMERICA.  For  God's  sake,  be  quiet.  Do  not  inter 
fere  with  mighty  problems  that  you  do  not  understand.  I 
have  consulted  with  my  advisers  and  they  refuse  the 
woman's  plea.  What  can  I  do? 

The  drummer  re-enters    [right]   and  stands  near 
America,  looking  on. 

AMERICAN  BANKER.  It  would  be  contrary  to  all  the 
rules  of  world  diplomacy. 

AMERICAN  BUSINESS  MAN.  It  would  interfere  with 
business. 


WORLD  PEACE  39 

COLUMBIA.  Diplomacy!  Business!  I  care  as  little  for 
these  as  you  care  for  the  millions  of  human  lives  that 
have  been  sacrificed  upon  the  altar  of  greed.  Such  gods 
may  satisfy  men  who  never  gave  life  to  a  child,  but  to  us 
women  who  have  paid  the  price  for  a  human  life  they 
are  but  trash. 

AMERICA.  Be  reasonable,  woman!  Be  reasonable! 
We  must  be  content  with  watchful  waiting. 

COLUMBIA.  Watchful  waiting!  Yes,  no  doubt,  that 
is  sufficient  for  you  men,  but  we  women  want  quick  and 
decisive  action. 

AMERICA.    [In  desperation]    Ye  gods!    These  women! 

DRUMMER.  Sam,  I  told  you  that  if  ever  you  let  the 
petticoats  get  a  look-in  they  would  play  the  devil  with 
things! 

COLUMBIA.  Are  our  children  to  blush  for  us  in  ever 
lasting  shame  because  of  your  inaction  now?  In  all  the 
history  of  the  world  no  nation  ever  faced  so  sublime  an 
opportunity  to  serve  mankind  as  we;  no  ruler  ever 
grasped  so  god-like  a  power;  but  once  in  the  lifetime  of 
the  race  does  such  an  opportunity  come,  and  all  the  fu 
ture  ages  will  loathe  and  despise  us  if  we  fail  humanity 
in  this  crisis.  From  the  crash  and  roar  of  war  that 
grips  the  world  to-day  we  are  free;  while  the  nations  of 
Europe  writhe  in  a  death  struggle  like  wild  beasts  in  a 
jungle  fight,  we  are  at  peace.  The  only  powerful  nation 
not  hopelessly  embroiled,  we  hold  the  confidence  of  all 
nations  and  the  power  to  arrest  carnage,  to  still  the 
roar  of  war,  to  dam  the  rivers  of  blood  and  to  bring 
peace  to  nations  unable  to  secure  peace  for  themselves. 
Like  Jesus,  who  stood  by  the  wind-tossed  waves  of  Gall- 


40  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  n 

lee,  we  have  the  power  to  say  to  the  war-tossed  nations 
of  Europe,  "Peace,  be  still,"  and  no  matter  how  strong 
the  surge  of  hate,  no  matter  how  blind  the  passion,  no 
matter  how  deep  the  hold  of  the  war  demon — if  we  but 
speak,  war  will  cease. 

AMERICA.  In  God's  name!  Will  you  never  cease 
your  importunities?  This  is  not  our  war.  Militarism  is 
to  blame;  Kaiser,  King,  Emperor  and  Czar  are  responsi 
ble;  we  must  maintain  our  neutrality. 

COLUMBIA.  How  Christlike!  Militarism — that  word 
seems  to  have  a  familiar  sound.  It  has  been  a  won 
derfully  convenient  scapegoat  for  truckling  politicians, 
but  we  women  know  that  it  is  but  another  name  for 
greed  and  profits.  Kaiser,  Emperor,  King  and  Czar! 
Yes!  they  started  the  war,  but  we  are  going  to  end  IL 
Neutrality — certainly  the  neutrality  of  hell — the  money 
changer's  pact  with  death — a  bloody  bargain  with  the 
war  lords;  peace  with  damnation,  that  the  profits  of 
these  speculators  may  be  protected.  How  shameful  that 
we  must  admit  that  no  patriotic  passions  sway  us,  no 
religious  frenzy  blinds  our  reason.  We  are  not  honest 
enough  to  espouse  the  cause  of  the  nation  we  think  most 
justified  in  this  murderfest,  Germany  or  England,  France 
or  Russia;  the  blood-stained  gold  of  any  nation  is  ac 
ceptable  to  us.  We  will  furnish  the  machines  of  murder 
to  any  nation,  to  kill  the  people  of  any  nation,  if  they  but 
bring  us  "thirty  pieces  of  silver." 

AMERICA.  In  the  name  of  God,  woman,  have  you  no 
mercy!  Why  press  the  white-hot  brand  of  my  own  soul's 
condemnation  into  my  heart?  Am  I  not  human  like  your 
self,  have  I  not  eyes  to  see  and  ears  to  hear  and  reason 
that  cannot  be  smothered;  have  I  not  a  soul  that  sees  and 


WORLD  PEACE  41 

feels  and  knows  the  cursed  needlessness  of  the  sufferings 
of  mankind?  Why  add  your  scorn  to  my  shame,  humilia 
tion  and  self-contempt?  The  golden  chains  of  interna 
tional  finances  and  business  make  me  a  galley  slave.  I 
am  helpless! 

COLUMBIA.  Forgive  the  bitter  words.  My  love  is  fai 
deeper  than  my  scorn.  You  have  at  last  had  one  truth 
seared  into  your  brain — a  government,  like  a  home,  must 
have  both  a  father  and  a  mother  to  be  complete.  I  "will 
call  the  allies  of  womanhood  and  they  shall  free  you  from 
your  golden  chains  of  slavery  and  act  as  messengers  to 
carry  the  message  of  our  nation  to  the  world.  [Colum 
bia  beckons  to  Peace,  a  young  woman  in  white,  and 
Democracy,  a  young  man.]  [Enter  right.] 

PEACE.  The  world  is  sick  unto  death  of  war  and  hate, 
bloodshed  and  murder,  and  demands  peace.  Peace  asks 
of  you,  the  only  nation  strong  enough  to  make  your  will 
law,  an  official  demand  for  mediation. 

AMERICA.  How  can  I  give  it,  when  the  industrial 
situation  of  my  nation  forbids  such  action  on  my  part? 

DEMOCRACY.  The  industrial  masters  of  the  nation 
are  industrial  masters  because  "THE  WILL  OF  THE 
PEOPLE"  has  allowed  them  mastery.  But  if  our  indus 
trial  masters  insist  on  deluging  the  earth  with  blood  in  a 
competitive  struggle  to  fertilize  their  money  crop,  the 
"WILL  OF  THE  PEOPLE"  can  take  from  them  their 
power  to  make  wars,  or  to  so  order  affairs  that  wars 
are  inevitable.  Shorn  of  this  power,  the  war  lords  be 
come  powerless  to  wield  their  despotism  and  must  per 
force  become  peaceful-minded  citizens. 

The  banker,  speculator  and  business  man  stand 
ing  near  dais  listen  intently.     With  the  statement  of 


42  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  n 

Democracy  they  burst  into  a  volley  of  objections, 
shouting  "impracticable,"  "folly,"  "socialism,"  and 
"utopianism." 

The  Drummer  elbows  his  way  to  front  of  group  and 
addresses  America. 

DRUMMER.  Confound  it,  Sam!  I  knew  there  was 
trouble  ahead  when  I  saw  the  women  getting  busy.  We 
can  shout  "folly",  "socialism"  and  "utopianism"  until  we 
are  black  in  the  face  and  it  won't  touch  them.  If  they  want 
mediation  and  peace,  for  God's  sake  give  it  to  them,  or 
they  will  be  taking  our  shoe  factories  next.  For,  take  it 
from  me,  they  will  get  what  they  go  after. 

DEMOCRACY.  Remember,  this  is  a  republic.  When 
the  people  speak  it  is  in  the  voice  of  command.  The  peo 
ple  are  demanding  that  motherhood,  as  well  as  father 
hood,  shall  share  the  responsibilities  of  government; 
that  differences  between  nations  shall  be  settled  by  me 
diation,  and  that  war  shall  be  driven  off  the  earth.  De 
clare  an  embargo  on  the  exportation  of  war  munitions; 
issue  an  official  demand  for  mediation  and,  like  dew  from 
Heaven,  peace  shall  bless  the  earth. 

AMERICA.  I  consent;  I  shall  send  a  message  to  the 
warring  nations.  In  the  name  of  humanity  and  civiliza 
tion  I  shall  demand  that  this  war  and  all  future  differ 
ences  between  nations  shall  be  settled  by  Mediation,  and 
the  decree  of  our  nation  is  that  peace  shall  be  the  price 
that  every  king  and  emperor  shall  pay  for  our  commodi 
ties,  and  in  the  future  no  son  of  ours  shall  damn  his  eter 
nal  soul  making  munitions  of  war. 

COLUMBIA,  PEACE,  DEMOCRACY  AND  MESSEN 
GER.  [Cry  in  unison]  Glorious!  Flash  this  message  to 
all  the  world — this  manifesto  of  the  American  nation. 


WORLD  PEACE  43 

DRUMMER.  Gee  whiz!  War  sure  got  a  knockout 
punch  that  time,  but  no  use  to  cry  over  spilled  milk — peo 
ple  will  still  wear  shoes,  so  I  must  hustle  and  get  to  the 
next  move. 

American  business  man,  banker  and  speculator 
quietly  leave  the  stage.  [Exit  right.] 

The  Messenger,  escorted  by  Peace  and  Democracy, 
goes  back  to  her  place  among  the  European  women. 
During  the  entire  scene  the  orchestra  has  main 
tained  the  muffled  sounds  of  distant  warfare.  As 
Peace  and  Democracy  start  on  their  mission  the 
sound  of  warfare  dies  away  and  the  orchestra  plays 
"Lead,  Kindly  Light." 

Peace  and  Democracy  go  to  the  weeping  women, 
lifting  the  draperies  of  mourning  and  dropping  them 
at  their  feet.  The  European  women,  half-blinded  by 
weeping  and  stupefied  by  sorrow,  try  to  show  their 
gratitude.  Some  cross  themselves,  some  fall  on 
their  knees,  and  others  cluster  about  Peace,  kissing 
her  hands  and  garments.  The  children  spring  to 
their  feet,  shouting  in  chorus. 

IRISH  CHILD.  The  war  is  done,  Peace  has  come, 
daddy  is  coming  back  to  us,  and  we  will  all  go  home. 

The  Pilgrim's  Chorus  is  heard  afar  off,  and  slowly 
a  pitiful,  tattered  portion  of  the  men  who  went  to 
war  creep  back  into  view  [enter  left].  Some  are 
maimed  and  crippled,  some  are  carried  on  stretch 
ers.  The  women  and  children  fall  upon  their  knees 
beside  the  stretchers  that  hold  their  men,  others  em 
brace  the  cripples,  and  the  women  who  have  re 
ceived  the  "Death  Letter"  gather  their  children  in 
their  arms,  crushed  by  their  sorrow.  The  Belgian 


44  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  IT 

mother,  who  has  received  a  "Death  Letter,"  straight 
ens  her  shoulders,  wipes  the  tears  from  her  eyes 
and,  leading  her  son  of  twelve  by  the  hand,  steps 
forward  and  speaks. 

BELGIAN  MOTHER.  Long  and  black  has  been  our 
night  of  Borrow,  flame  scorched  has  been  the  hell  we've 
trod,  desolate  is  the  heritage  the  war  gods  have  left  us 
but  our  children  must  live.  Someone  must  smooth  down 
the  graves  and  replant  the  vines  and  wheat,  someone 
must  rebuild  the  ruined  homes  and  shell-swept  cities, 
someone  must  make  our  blood-soaked  continent  habitable. 
The  war  lords  have  killed  our  men,  and  we  women  folks 
must  shoulder  the  burden  of  rebuilding  civilization.  An 
ocean  of  tears  cannot  wash  away  the  stains  of  blood,  a 
lifetime  of  repining  cannot  bring  back  the  life  of  a 
single  man.  We  must  bury  our  sorrow  with  the  rotting 
bones  of  our  husbands  and  make  a  new  earth  for  the 
children  they  have  left  behind. 

Red  Cross  and  Medical  Science  husily  care  for  the 
wounded.  Charity  and  Religion  offer  the  gladly  wel 
comed  bread,  workmen  enter  slowly  with  tools  of 
rehabilitation,  hammers,  spades  and  trowels. 
America  gazes  upon  the  scene,  then  turns  to  Co 
lumbia. 

AMERICA.  You  are  right.  The  blood-stained  gold  of 
war  is  not  good  business. 

CURTAIN. 


ACT  III 


The  stage  is  set  to  represent  a  great  council  cham 
ber.  About  the  walls  are  hung  the  flags  of  all  na 
tions  and  on  the  back  vcall  hangs  a  great  map  of  Eu 
rope  all  splashed  with  blood. 

[LEFT]  Seated  in  ornate  chairs  are  the  King 
of  England,  the  King  of  Belgium,  the  King  of  Ser- 
via,  the  King  of  Italy,  the  Czar  of  Russia  and  the 
President  of  France;  the  Kaiser,  the  Emperor  of 
Austria-Hungary  and  the  Sultan.  The  European 
statesmen,  bankers,  business  men  and  the  armament 
maker  are  standing  just  behind  the  rulers. 

[CENTER]  Seated  about  a  long  table  are  the 
Mediators — America,  Columbia,  Peace,  History  and 
Democracy.  Standing  just  behind  them  are  Medi 
cal  Science,  Red  Cross,  Charity,  Religion  and  Mes 
senger,  American  banker,  business  man  and  specu 
lator,  and  the  "drummer". 

[RIGHT]      The  common  people  of  all  nations. 

The  King  of  England  steps  forward  and  addresses 
the  mediators. 

45 


46  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  in 

THE  KING  OF  ENGLAND.  Most  honored  mediators: 
We  are  gathered  here  to  discuss  the  terms  upon  which 
peace  may  be  declared  and  this  sad  war  ended.  The  long 
and  glorious  history  of  my  nation  needs  no  repetition. 
The  honored  folds  of  England's  banner  have  ever  been 
thrown  in  protection  about  each  weaker  nation  that 
needed  our  protection.  Britannia,  Queen  of  Commerce, 
Mistress  of  the  Seas,  Protector  of  the  Weak,  and  De 
fender  of  the  Faith,  could  do  nothing  less  than  rush  to 
the  defense  of  our  shamelessly  invaded  sister  nation, 
Belgium.  I  pledge  you  upon  the  sacred  honor  of  my 
nation  that  our  royal  skirts  are  clean  of  human  blood. 
England  has  always  tried  to  maintain  the  balance  of 
world  power  so  that  no  weaker  nation  should  be  op 
pressed,  and  our  great  navy  has  been  the  international 
policeman  of  the  world,  safeguarding  the  rights  of  all. 
England  demands  that  the  German  despot  shall  at  once 
evacuate  Belgium  and  make  suitable  recompense  to  that 
nation  for  all  the  wrongs  and  crimes  so  far  wrought.  We 
demand  that  there  shall  be  no  German  interference  in 
our  hold  of  the  balance  of  world  power,  that  weaker  na 
tions  may  not  be  oppressed;  and  we  insist  that  our  navy 
shall  continue  to  be  the  International  police  force  of  the 
world  to  protect  each  nation  In  its  sacred  rights. 

The  King  of  England  retires  and  the  Czar  of  Rus 
sia  steps  forward  and  addresses  the  mediators. 

CZAR.  Most  honored  mediators:  It  Is  with  perfect 
assurance  that  I  address  you,  for  I  know  that  all  Just 
judges  must  declare  that  I  represent  the  true  culture, 
the  sacred  democracy  and  the  Christian  spirit  of  mod 
ern  civilization.  The  tender  care  of  the  "Little  Father" 
for  his  children  Is  known  the  whole  world  round.  Free- 


WORLD  PEACE  47 

dom,  love,  paternal  care,  peace  and  plenty  has  been  the 
portion  of  the  people  of  Russia.  Mine  Is  a  nation  that 
loves  peace  and  I  hold  every  drop  of  Russian  blood  sacred 
— far  too  sacred  to  be  spilled  in  any  but  a  holy  war  of 
freedom.  Russia  "was  suddenly  attacked  by  Germany 
and  forced  into  this  war  against  the  will  of  my  people. 
Before  I  heed  your  cry  of  peace,  you  must  assure  me  that 
my  demands  shall  be  met.  For  my  nation  I  demand 
that  Austria,  who  so  wantonly  attacked  Servia,  shall 
make  full  reparation  to  that  brave  nation;  that  Germany 
shall  indemnify  us  for  all  losses  suffered  by  us  In  Russian 
territory,  and  that  an  open  gateway  from  the  Baltic  shall 
be  forever  guaranteed  our  commerce.  We  also  demand 
an  open  pathway  from  the  Black  Sea  to  the  Mediterranean; 
that  the  fortifications  that  have  menaced  our  shipping 
be  razed;  that  the  portions  of  Poland  and  Galicia  now 
occupied  by  the  Russian  forces  be  ceded  to  the  Russian 
Empire,  and  that  Germany,  Austria  and  Turkey  Jointly 
indemnify  my  empire  for  all  the  costs  of  this  war  of 
defense.  [Retires.] 

President  of  France  rises  and  steps  forward  to 
address  the  mediators. 

PRESIDENT  OF  FRANCE.  The  attack  upon  our  na 
tion  by  Germany  was  uncalled  for  and  came  upon  us 
without  warning  and  at  a  time  when  France  was  engaged 
in  the  vocations  of  peace  and  had  no  thought  of  the  pos 
sibility  of  war.  Our  choicest  men  have  been  killed,  our 
fields  ruined,  our  cities  razed  and  millions  of  francs  in 
property  destroyed  by  the  invaders.  For  this  destruc 
tive  attack  France  demands  an  indemnity  from  Ger 
many  and  the  return  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine.  We  feel 
that  we  are  Justified  in  asking  this  reparation,  for  we 


48  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  in 

did  not  -wage  a  war  of  aggression,  but  of  defense — de 
fense  not  alone  of  ourselves,  but  of  Belgium.  We  de-» 
clare  our  skirts  are  clean  of  the  blood  that  has  been  shed. 
The  President  of  France  retires  and  the  Kaiser  ad 
vances  and  addresses  the  mediators. 
KAISER.  The  facts  show  that  Austria,  Justly  repri 
manding  Servia  for  the  wanton  murder  of  the  Archduke, 
was  confronted  by  an  attack  from  Russia,  who,  under  a 
pretext  of  friendship  for  Servia,  seized  the  long-hoped-for 
opportunity  of  destroying  Austria-Hungary,  that  Russia 
might  win  the  mastery  of  the  Balkans  and  the  Slavic  na 
tions,  and  thus  win  through  to  the  Mediterranean.  Rus 
sia,  with  her  ally,  France,  had  perfected  a  conspiracy  to 
attack  and  overwhelm  Germany  as  a  necessity  if  Austria 
were  to  be  dismembered.  We  struck  and  struck  first 
through  the  traitor-nation,  Belgium,  but  we  struck  for 
the  very  life  of  the  Fatherland.  We  have  suffered  in  si 
lence  for  many  years,  but  at  last  the  pressure  became 
too  great  to  bear.  When  the  hour  came  that  the  life  of 
the  Fatherland  was  at  stake  our  workmen  laid  down 
their  tools  and  took  up  their  guns,  and  they  will  stand 
by  those  guns  until  we  can  convince  an  envious  world 
that  our  rights  must  be  protected.  We  welcome  the 
thought  of  peace,  but  that  peace  can  only  come  when 
the  paths  of  commerce  that  lead  through  Gibraltar,  Do 
ver  and  Suez  are  unblocked  by  British  cannons.  By  "the 
Divine  Right"  of  kings  I  rule  my  wide  domain.  I  was 
ordained  of  God  to  rule  my  people  for  their  own  salva 
tion,  with  an  iron  hand  if  necessary.  If  blood  has  flowed 
it  is  because  God,  the  Kaiser,  or  the  Fatherland,  was  at 
tacked,  and  with  the  power  of  God  to  strengthen  my 
iron  might  I  have  smitten  the  enemies  of  God  and  Kaiser. 


WORLD  PEACE  49 

If  necessary,  I  will  wage  this  war  until  every  man  is 
dead.  The  lives  of  my  people  are  mine,  and  if  my  "di 
vine  right"  to  rule  is  questioned  I  will  use  them  all. 

The  Emperor  of  Austria-Hungary  steps   forward 
and  addresses  the  mediators. 

EMPEROR  OF  AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.  There  can  be 
no  question  of  my  right  to  rebuke  the  treachery  of  Ser- 
via  and  resist  the  aggression  of  Russia.  Unless  I  would 
submit  to  seeing  my  nation  torn  into  shreds  no  other 
course  than  that  I  took  was  possible.  I  desire  peace,  but 
demand  that  Servia  shall  do  homage  to  the  majesty  of  the 
Austro-Hungarian  Empire;  that  Russia  shall  evacuate 
Galicia  and  that  a  suitable  indemnity  be  paid  to  us. 
[Retires.] 

HISTORY.  In  this  world  war  that  involves  all  na 
tions,  I  see  none  to  praise  and  none  to  blame.  Standing 
apart  and  viewing  the  struggles  of  mankind  from  afar 
off,  none  has  the  right  to  judge  between  the  nations. 
Each  has  battled  in  accordance  with  its  own  vision;  each 
has  been  compelled  to  do  what  it  has  done  by  elemental 
conditions  that  could  only  have  been  overcome  by  wiser 
and  stronger  men  than  the  race  has  evolved. 

PEACE.  [To  History]  Are  you,  then,  in  accord  with 
the  church  dignitaries  who  declare  this  to  be  a  holy  war? 

HISTORY.  Not  at  all;  I  simply  declare  that  the  great 
empires  of  to-day  are  the  few  survivors  of  the  countless 
bloody  struggles  in  which  countless  nations  have  perished 
and  been  absorbed  by  the  conquerors.  Yet  we  know  that 
within  each  of  these  empires  there  is  the  largest  measure 
of  social  peace  ever  known  to  suffering  mankind,  and  this 
social  peace  covering  broad  areas  is  the  result  of  previous 
wars  of  aggression  and  exploitation.  America,  England, 


50  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  in 

France,  Germany,  Russia,  Italy,  Austria,  all  empires  and 
nations,  have  their  title  deeds  written  in  blood. 

PEACE.  But  my  prophets  have  lived  in  every  age  and 
sought  to  win  a  stubborn  race  to  my  banner.  Isaiah, 
Jesus,  Buddha,  all  have  spoken  in  my  name. 

HISTORY.  Yes,  and  found  many  disciples.  In  every 
age  an  ever-growing  portion  of  mankind  has  revolted 
against  war,  but  their  hour  had  not  come.  Like  the  voice 
of  John  crying  in  the  wilderness,  they  foretold  the  day 
that  shall  dawn  with  the  passing  of  this  black  night  of 
world  war. 

PEACE.  [Speaks  to  the  rulers]  You  all  say  that  you 
desire  peace,  but  you  make  your  terms  on  such  a  basis 
that  only  armed  respite  from  war  can  ensue.  The  great 
underlying  cause  for  war  will  remain  to  produce  still 
greater  outbreaks  In  the  future.  Your  competitive  strug 
gle  for  world  commerce;  your  efforts  to  hamper  each 
other's  freedom  of  international  intercourse,  leave  you 
all  animated  by  jealousy  and  hate,  envy  and  suspicion. 
Some  proposal  must  be  made  that,  when  accepted,  will 
make  this  world  war  the  last  of  wars.  Some  plan  must 
be  proposed  that  will  enable  the  interdependent  nations 
of  Europe  to  disarm  and  live  in  peace  and  co-operation 
while  future  history  unrolls  the  scroll. 

Messenger  steps  forward  and  addresses  mediators 
and  rulers. 

MESSENGER.  It  is  God's  truth  that  Peace  has 
spoken.  It  is  not  an  armed  truce  we  women  want,  but 
lasting  peace.  By  suffering  and  anguish,  blood  and 
death  we  have  learned  the  bitter  lesson  that  all  the  trap 
pings  of  war  cannot  bring  that  peace.  Not  even  if  we 
spend  one-half  of  all  of  our  wealth  for  armament  and 


WORLD  PEAOE  51 

give  the  best  years  of  the  lives  of  all  of  our  sons  to  sol 
diering  can  ponderous  forts  and  thundering  cannons  and 
swaggering  soldiers  bring  peace.  [Turns  to  the  rulers] 
You  kings,  emperors  and  presidents  have  all  asked  for 
indemnities,  for  gold  to  pay  you  for  the  loss  of  cities, 
fields,  factories  and  commerce.  I  ask  you  what  king  or 
ruler  will,  or  can,  pay  us  women  for  our  dead  men, 
for  our  helpless  cripples,  for  our  outraged  women  and 
for  our  tragic  sufferings?  Who  can  pay!  who  will  pay 
us  •women  for  OUR  losses  in  this  war?  When  you  have" 
given  back  every  dead  man  to  our  arms,  when  the  vio 
lated  bodies  of  our  daughters  are  uncontaminated,  and 
the  little  lives  conceived  in  lust  are  sent  back  to  their 
fathers'  loins;  when  our  homes  have  been  replaced  as 
they  were  and  the  hellish  memory  of  this  cursed  year  is 
wiped  from  our  minds,  then  it  is  time  for  you  to  talk  of 
damages,  indemnities  and  payments! 

A  banker  springs  to  his  feet  and  appeals  to  the 
mediators. 

BANKER.  I  protest  against  this  woman's  taking  part 
in  these  deliberations;  the  things  we  are  here  to  discuss 
are  not  within  woman's  realm;  they  belong  to  the  world 
of  men.  I  represent  the  financial  interests  of  the  world. 
King,  emperor,  president  and  czar,  I  am  the  friend  of 
each  and  the  supporter  of  all.  I  do  not  care  for  the  form 
of  government,  republic,  kingdom  or  empire,  all  must 
come  to  me  for  gold.  For  even  the  democratically  ex 
pressed  will  of  men  I  have  no  fear,  for  men  are  so  im 
bued  with  the  doctrine  of  the  sacred  rights  of  property 
that  they  will  vote  for  the  protection  of  my  interests. 
But  woman's  advent  into  the  field  of  political  action 
chills  me  with  dread  and  foreboding.  Women,  emo- 


52  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  in 

tlonal  and  sentimental,  will  only  consider  human  life  and 
will  Jeopardize  my  interests  when  in  the  course  of  nat 
ural  events  it  becomes  necessary  to  sacrifice  a  thousand 
or  a  million  lives  to  protect  the  business  interests  of  a 
nation.  You  may  re-make  the  map  of  the  world,  topple 
thrones,  dethrone  kings  and  melt  crowns  for  baby  rat 
tles,  and  I  will  not  suffer.  But  I  warn  you  with  all 
earnestness  that  if  you  open  the  door  of  political  recog 
nition  to  women  the  very  foundations  of  our  civilization 
will  crumble.  [Retires] 

HISTORY.  But  women  are  the  creators  of  civiliza 
tion — they  made  the  first  tools,  developed  the  arts, 
builded  the  first  homes,  tamed  the  first  animals,  broke 
the  first  furrow  and  reaped  the  first  harvests,  while  men 
were  busy  with  arms  and  slaughter  and  exploit!  And 
that  free,  emancipated  German  woman  of  the  olden  day! 
Are  not  all  ye  fair-haired  Northern  people  from  her 
womb,  and  great  because  ye  inherit  her  greatness? 

MESSENGER.  [To  the  Banker]  Well  we  know  that 
kings,  emperors  and  presidents  are  but  pawns  with  which 
you  play  the  game  of  finance.  To  the  bitterness  of  our 
souls  we  know  that  back  of  every  king  stands  the  banker 
who  reaps  the  golden  harvest  when  nations  go  to  war. 
O  God!  We  know  that  every  modern  war  that  has  raged, 
that  every  drop  of  spilled  blood,  every  whitening  bone 
and  rotting  carcass  is  the  price  we  women  pay  for  your 
profits. 

HISTORY.  But  we  also  know  that  back  of  the  banker 
and  his  profits  is  the  changeless  law  of  progress.  The 
all-important  law  of  life  is — to  live.  To  live,  mankind 
must  eat,  drink,  find  shelter  and  raiment — love  and  pro 
pagate  the  race.  All  life  has  been  a  struggle  to  live — 


WORLD  PEACE  53 

the  strong  to  live  upon  the  labor  of  the  weak  and  the 
weak  to  live  at  any  price.  Slave-master,  feudal  lord  and 
profit  monger  have  all  waged  wars  for  the  .same  purpose 
— to  enhance  their  power  to  live  more  luxuriously  upon 
the  labor  of  slave,  serf  and  wage-worker.  While  the 
masters  struggle  for  power  and  profits  the  workers 
struggle  for  life  more  abundant  and  out  of  your  brute 
struggle  for  profits  and  the  blind  struggle  of  the  workers 
for  life  has  come  this  world  war.  From  this  world  war 
alone  can  come  world  peace. 

PEACE.  Great  God!  Are  we  to  understand  that 
History  sanctions  war? 

HISTORY.  History  sanctions  nothing,  opposes  noth 
ing,  advocates  nothing;  history  records.  Act  by  act, 
scene  by  scene  I  have  recorded  the  endless  drama  played 
by  humanity  upon  the  world  stage.  Ever  enlarging  have 
been  the  activities,  the  vices  and  the  virtues  of  mankind. 
Briefly,  the  drama  of  mankind  since  the  days  of  Cain 
has  been  played  in  aggression.  In  their  little  narrow 
world  man  fought  against  man,  then  clan  against  clan, 
then  tribe  against  tribe  and  city  against  city  and  ever  as 
they  fought  their  horizon  grew  broader,  their  numbers 
greater  and  their  sense  of  co-operation  stronger.  At  last 
I  wrote  the  story  of  a  nation  at  peace  within  itself 
because  of  past  tribal  wars  and  now  I  write  the  story 
not  only  of  nation  at  war  with  nation,  but  of  the 
nations  that  make  up  half  a  continent  fighting  side  by 
side,  the  largest  instance  of  co-operation  that  has  ever 
been  written  on  the  scroll  of  life. 

DEMOCRACY.  In  the  crucible  of  this  world  war  the 
workers  of  all  nations  have  been  fused;  in  the  flames  of 
this  world  war  the  petty  powers  of  kings  and  money 


54  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  in 

changers  have  been  consumed.  A  united,  chastened  race 
shall  arise  from  the  ashes  of  war-scorched  Europe  and 
build  a  world  kingdom  on  the  broader  wisdom  of  the 
right  of  every  human  being  to  live.  To  live,  not  upon 
the  weakness  of  his  brother,  but  by  paying  the  debt  of 
useful  labor  and  helpful  service  for  the  rich  gifts  of 
nature.  The  price  of  a  world  war  is  too  heavy  for  man 
kind  to  pay  for  the  privilege  of  the  few  to  live  upon  the 
labor  of  the  many.  There  Is  but  one  more  great  field 
of  unity  for  mankind  to  occupy — a  world  united  in  a  war, 
not  to  conquer  men  but  the  hostile  forces  of  nature. 

MEDICAL  SCIENCE.  Too  long  has  my  strength  and 
the  loving  service  of  my  helpmate  Red  Cross  been 
absorbed  in  patching  up  the  men  maimed  in  man's 
bloody  wars.  If  Democracy  has  spoken  truly  and  this 
world  war  has  slain  the  war  god  because  mankind  has 
found  his  price  to  great  to  pay,  then  I  and  all  my  brother 
Sciences  rejoice.  Inventive  science  shall  serve  the  arts 
of  peace  and  not  of  war  and  I,  freed  from  the  shambles 
of  war's  slaughter  house,  shall  turn  to  the  mighty  task 
of  conquering  nature.  Some  glimmer  of  the  mighty 
gifts  I  hold  for  mankind  already  shines  from  Havana, 
Manila  and  the  Panama.  Hasten  to  find  that  path  to 
world  peace  and  free  me  to  wage  my  war.  I  long  to  be 
at  work.  My  weapon  shall  be  a  microscope,  my  enemy  a 
microbe,  my  battlefield  the  world  and  my  conquest  the 
gift  of  health  to  all  mankind,  the  whole  world  habitable. 

AMERICA.  [With  great  sadness]  Humanity  writhes 
in  a  hell  of  our  making.  The  scorching  flames  of  this 
world-war  have  burned  away  the  false  foundations  and 
gaudy  trappings  of  military  glory  that  have  hidden  our 
sordid  greed,  and  the  rivers  of  blood  that  we  have  shed 


WORLD  PEAOE  55 

have  washed  the  ashes  away  into  the  sea.  The  time  has 
come  for  every  ruler  to  face  the  brutal  fact  and  speak 
the  shameful  truth  that  profits  have  been  our  aim  and 
might  has  been  our  law.  That  portion  of  the  earth  that 
each  one  of  us  holds,  we  took  by  force  of  sword  and 
cannon.  We  have  paid  for  it  in  blood  and  bleaching 
bones  and  if  we  maintain  such  hold,  it  must  be  by  making 
all  mankind  slaves  to  the  war  god  and  paying  his  ever 
growing  tribute  in  the  wealth  the  workers  create  and  in 
the  lives  of  our  children. 

You  have  each  declared  you  were  invaded — that  is 
impossible.  You  have  each  declared  your  garments 
clean  of  human  blood — before  God  we  know  we  are  all 
equally  bespattered  with  the  blood  we  have  shed  enforc 
ing  our  brutal  law  of  MIGHT.  In  this  bitter  ho'Ur  when 
we  are  all  proven  equally  guilty,  let  us  find  the  courage 
to  be  men;  let  us  not  accuse  each  other;  let  us  leave 
behind  us  the  role  of  lying  rulers  who  vainly  try  to 
hide  the  hellish  form  of  war  beneath  the  trappings  of 
glory  and  still  the  cries  of  our  victims  with  the  blatant 
shouts  of  patriotism.  When  lies  and  shams  are  dropped, 
none  of  us  can  feel  just  pride  in  our  rule  of  our  portion 
of  the  earth;  each  spot  reeks  with  the  smell  of  blood 
and  death.  There  must  be  some  nobler,  more  Christlike 
form  of  government  than  kings,  emperors  and  presidents 
have  evolved.  Let  us  hear  the  voice  of  the  common 
people  and  perchance  it  may  be  the  voice  of  God. 

The  Drummer  springs  forward  to  speak  to  the 
mediators. 

DRUMMER.  Here  is  the  place  for  "Buttinski"  to  get 
busy.  Fve  listened  to  your  highbrow  talk  until  my  ear 
aches.  For  God's  sake!  Let's  drop  the  "bull"  and  get 


56  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  in 

down  to  "brass  tacks".  We  all  know  that  what  we  have 
always  fought  for  has  been  this  [draws  a  handful  of 
bills  and  silver  from  his  pocket  and  throws  it  on  the 
table]  the  "long  green",  the  "iron  men'',  the  "mazu- 
ma."  We've  togged  War  out  in  all  sorts  of  "glad  rags" 
and  tried  to  give  him  "hlghfalutin"  principles  but  it 
was  the  "jitneys"  we  were  after.  But  we  had  Just  as 
well  get  next  to  this — the  game  is  played  out  boys — we 
got  to  start  a  new  deal.  I'll  fight  as  long  as  I  got  a 
fighting  chance,  but  I  am  no  hog  for  punishment  and  I 
know  when  I  got  enough.  God  knows  you  all  got  enough 
now,  but  you  don't  know  how  to  yell  "quit",  so  I  got  to 
do  it  for  you. 

Fighting  don't  make  any  money,  it  just  lets  a  few 
buzzards  hog  it  all  and  leaves  every  one  else  dog  poor. 
If  you  want  to  see  the  wheels  begin  to  hum  and  the 
•working  class  get  into  the  collar  to  make  coin  for  you, 
drop  your  guns  like  sensible  men,  shake  hands  and  don't 
pout  and  snivel  like  white  llvered  kids — be  game.  You 
can  never  pile  up  any  bank  accounts  blowing  each  other's 
heads  off — war  is  a  damned  costly  game  to  play  at. 

Over  in  little  old  U.  S.  A.  we  got  forty-eight  countr'es 
as  big  and  Just  as  important  as  many  of  yours.  We  don't 
spill  any  good  money  fighting  each  other,  neither  do  we 
let  any  state  hog  the  seaports.  We  extend  the  glad  hand 
over  the  state  line,  every  state  uses  our  harbors  and  then 
we  come  over  here  and  clean  out  your  piles  because  you 
are  always  fighting  among  yourselves.  That  ain't  all 
either — there  are  twenty  republics  on  that  Western  Con 
tinent  and  we  don't  blow  any  money  on  forts  or  make 
gouging  each  other's  eyes  out  our  national  pastimes.  Your 
twaddle  about  racial  differences  is  all  bunk,  there  is  no 


WORLD  PEACE  57 

more  difference  in  men  or  business  Interests  between 
Spain  and  Sweden  than  between  a  Texas  cowman  and  a 
Connecticut  Yankee.  We  business  men  used  to  fight 
over  in  U.  S.  A.  just  like  you  kings  do  until  we  found 
out  it  was  a  fool  thing  to  do.  We  learned  that  there  was 
no  money  to  make  cutting  each  other's  throats,  BO  we 
organized  to  help  each  other  instead  of  slitting  gullets — 
now  we  got  things  coming  our  way.  Use  your  forts  for 
granaries,  melt  your  cannons  down  for  carwheels,  set 
your  soldiers  to  work  building  railroads  and  planting 
crops  and  then  watch  the  coin  come  rolling  in. 

What's  the  fun  in  being  a  king  anyway  when  you  got 
to  fight  all  the  time  for  a  chance  to  pose  like  a  cigar 
store  Indian  with  a  crown  tipped  over  one  eye?  Gee!  I 
wouldn't  trade  a  seat  in  the  bleachers  with  another  good, 
live  shoeman  for  a  pal  watching  the  Browns  pound  the 
stuftln'  out  of  the  White  Sox  for  any  worm-eaten  throne 
in  Europe.  Forget  it  boys!  Get  down  and  be  real,  live 
human  beings  and  you  will  lose  your  appetite  for  war. 
[Drummer  retires], 

A    workman    steps    forward    and    addresses    the 
mediators. 

WORKMAN.  O!  mediators  we  are  not  glib  of  tongue 
or  learned  in  the  use  of  words;  only  in  the  simple  language 
of  common  people  can  we  present  our  plea.  In  all  the 
wars  History  has  recorded  we  were  the  victims,  and  all 
struggles  have  ever  been  waged  over  the  fruits  of  our 
labor.  Slave  master,  feudal  lord  and  profit  monger  have 
since  the  dawn  of  civilization  worked  us,  robbed  us, 
armed  us  and  bade  us  kill  ourselves  and  our  brothers  to 
enlarge  their  territories  or  to  enhance  their  wealth. 
Foolish  we  have  been  to  fight  the  petty  quarrels  of  our 


58  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  m 

masters.  Misled  by  our  masters'  press,  mistaught  by 
our  masters'  school,  betrayed  by  our  masters'  clergy  we 
have  been.  Yet  stirring  within  each  heart  there  has 
lived  the  dim  consciousness  of  the  common  brotherhood 
of  man,  the  solidarity  of  those  who  labor.  Our  rebellions 
in  the  past  were  mercilessly  crushed  by  our  masters, 
even  their  annals  have  been  torn  from  the  pages  of  the 
histories  their  hirelings  have  written;  but  a  new  pen 
helps  write  history  to-day;  it  is  wielded  by  woman  and 
all  the  gold  of  the  master  class  is  not  enough  to  prosti 
tute  her.  Our  hour  has  come.  We  have  fought  our  last 
battle  for  the  master  class;  we  have  taken  up  their 
swords  for  the  last  time;  we  swear  that  the  working  mil 
lions  shall  no  longer  slaughter  each  other  at  the  behest 
of  king,  emperor  or  money  changer.  Our  demands  must 
go  in  this  protocol  and  what  we  ask  we  shall  take  as  our 
right.  We  ask  but  to  live — to  love — to  reproduce  our  kind 
— to  labor  and  enjoy  the  fruits  thereof,  unrobbed  by 
idlers  and  unharrassed  by  wars.  We  shall  be  free  from 
brutal  exploitation;  democracy  shall  give  us  a  voice  in 
the  governments  of  earth  for  ourselves,  and  for  the 
women  who  gave  us  life  and  who  will  give  life  to  our 
children.  We  demand  that  the  roar  of  war  shall  be 
stilled  and  the  grip  of  the  exploiters  broken.  We  would 
be  free  to  feed,  clothe,  shelter  and  comfort  the  world. 
We  ask  that  every  seaport  shall  be  an  open  door  where 
our  brawny-farmed  'brothers  may  guide  into  the  harbors  the 
ships  we  have  built  and  filled  with  our  contributions  to 
the  welfare  of  mankind.  When  the  petty  quarrels  of 
kings  for  territories,  and  the  greed  of  profit  mongers  for 
profits  are  powerless  to  provoke  war,  we  shall  hide 
the  cruel  scars  that  they  have  made  by  planting 


WORLD  PEACE  59 

wheat  and  vines  above  the  graves  of  our  fallen  brothers. 
Workman  retires   and   Democracy   steps    forward 
and  addresses  the  mediators. 

DEMOCRACY.  This  war  came  against  my  protest.  The 
rulers  and  corrupt  press  stilled  the  voice  of  protest  from 
the  people,  and  by  compulsion  and  brutal  falsehood  set 
the  workers  at  each  other's  throats.  The  people  feel  that 
they  have  been  betrayed.  For  the  sake  of  markets  that 
the  masters  might  profit,  the  people  have  laid  down  their 
lives,  butchered  their  fellowmen  and  been  turned  into 
beasts  in  an  orgy  of  savagery.  In  all  the  proposals  of 
the  monarchs  I  fail  to  see  one  guard  against  another 
deluge  of  blood.  Democracy  demands  that  the  power  to 
declare  war  shall  rest  with  the  people,  the  whole  people, 
women  as  well  as  men.  Again  mankind  cannot  consent  to 
any  plan  that  does  not  give  to  any  nation  and  any  part  of 
a  nation  the  right  to  live  under  the  national  flag  and 
form  of  government  that  gives  them  the  fullest  freedom 
and  happiness.  In  the  past  my  realm  was  confined  to  the 
village,  the  city,  the  choosing  of  petty  officials,  while 
kings,  emperors  and  changers  of  blood-stained  money 
have  ruled  the  greater  world.  My  hour  has  come — 
my  people — the  great  common  people  of  all  nations 
demand  the  right  to  control  their  own  lives. 

AMERICA.  [Turning  to  the  mediators]  This  is  a 
fateful  hour,  pregnant  with  hope  for  the  human  race.  We 
have  heard  the  plea  of  kings,  emperors  and  money 
changers;  we  have  listened  to  the  voice  of  History  and 
Democracy;  we  have  heard  the  demands  of  the  common 
people.  What  shall  be  our  Judgement? 

World    Federation,    a    beautiful    young    woman 
bearing  an  empty  flag  staff  enters  (left). 


60  WORLD  PEACE  ACT  in 

WORLD  FEDERATION.  I  am  World  Federation  and 
I  come  In  answer  to  the  need  of  all  mankind.  You  are 
all  soul  sick  with  lies  and  shams,  bloodshed  and  murder; 
you  all  want  peace  and  human  brotherhood.  A  World 
Federation  of  all  the  nations  on  earth  alone  will  solve 
your  mighty  problem.  The  great  United  States  of  America 
has  blazed  the  path  and  pointed  out  the  way.  There 
forty-eight  sovereign  states  live  in  peace  and  harmony 
with  one  central  capital  where  the  representatives  of  all 
states  gather  for  deliberation.  If  forty-eight  states  can 
live  in  that  Western  Continent  peacefully  In  a  federation, 
why  cannot  all  the  nations  of  Europe  federate?  Why  not 
open  every  seaport  to  every  ship  that  plows  the  sea; 
why  not  make  the  railways  the  common  highways  of 
commerce  for  mankind?  Why  not  build  a  capital  for 
this  World  Federation  on  the  seven  hills  of  Rome,  or 
beside  the  Rhine,  or  amid  the  Alps,  or  upon  the  shores 
of  the  Mississippi,  or  on  the  banks  of  the  Thames?  Why 
not  solve  there  by  arbitration  all  questions  of  national 
rights  and  grievances,  and  abolish  secret  diplomacy? 

There  can  be  but  one  Judgement  possible.  Let  this 
go  forth  to  all  the  world  as  our  desire — the  world  shall 
be  our  nation,  each  country  a  state,  humanity  our  race, 
brotherhood  our  creed,  democracy  our  form  of  govern 
ment  and  none  to  share  the  gifts  of  God  and  man  but 
those  Who  serve  or  labor. 

MEDIATORS  [In  chorus]  Hear!  Hear!  World  Fed 
eration  is  the  next  historic  step  In  the  onward  march  of 
human  progress.  What  say  you  all? 

[The  rulers  look  at  each  other  doubtfully.  Si 
lently  a  woman  from  each  national  group  steps  to 
the  flag  of  her  nation,  takes  a  strip  of  red  from  her 


WORLD  PEACE  61 

national  flag  and  carries  it  to  World  Federation  who 
fastens  the  strips  together  into  a  great  banner.  As 
World  Federation  shakes  out  the  folds  of  the  crim 
son  banner  all  rise  with  arms  outstretched  towards 
the  flag  of  Brotherhood  and  the  orchestra  breaks 
forth  into  the  strains  of  the  Battle  Hymn  of  the 
Republic.] 

CURTAIN. 


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